JP2005520794A - Substituted benzoxazoles and analogs as estrogen agents - Google Patents

Abstract

［式中：
Ｒ_１、Ｒ_２、Ｒ_２ａ、Ｒ_３、Ｒ_３ａおよびＲ_４ならびにＸは、明細書中の記載と同意義である］
を有する式（Ｉ）で示されるエストロゲン受容体モジュレーターまたはその医薬上許容される塩を提供する。The present invention has the structural formula:
[Chemical 1]

[Where:
R ₁ , R ₂ , R _2a , R ₃ , R _3a and R ₄ and X are as defined in the specification]
An estrogen receptor modulator represented by the formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is provided.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

(Background of the Invention)
The present invention relates to substituted benzoxazoles useful as estrogen agents.

The multifaceted effects of estrogens in mammalian tissues are well documented and it is now recognized that estrogens affect many organ systems [Mendelsohn and Karas, New England Journal of Medicine 340: 1801-1811 (1999), Epperson, et al., Psychosomatic Medicine 61: 676-697 (1999), Crandall, Journal of Womens Health & Gender Based Medicine 8: 1155-1166 (1999), Monk and Brodaty, Dementia & Geriatric Cognitive Disorders 11 : 1-10 (2000), Hurn and Macrae, Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism 20: 631-652 (2000), Calvin, Maturitas 34: 195-210 (2000), Finking, et al., Zeitschrift fur Kardiologie 89 : 442-453 (2000), Brincat, Maturitas 35: 107-117 (2000), Al-Azzawi, Postgraduate Medical Journal 77: 292-304 (2001)]. Estrogens affect tissues in several ways, and the best characterized mechanism of action is interaction with the estrogen receptor, which induces changes in gene transcription. The estrogen receptor is a ligand-activated transcription factor and belongs to the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily. Other members of this family include progesterone, androgen, glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptors. By binding ligands, these receptors dimerize and interact directly with specific sequences on DNA (known as response elements) or interact with other transcription factors (eg, AP1) In turn, gene transcription can be activated by direct binding to specific DNA sequences [Moggs and Orphanides, EMBO Reports 2: 775-781 (2001), Hall, et al., Journal of Biological Chemistry 276: 36869-36872 (2001), McDonnell, Principles Of Molecular Regulation. P351-361 (2000)]. In addition, a group of “co-regulatory” proteins can interact with ligand-bound receptors and further regulate their replication activity [McKenna, et al., Endocrine Reviews 20: 321-344 (1999 )]. Also, the estrogen receptor, ligand-dependent and German-independent both in NF K _B- has been shown that it is possible to suppress mediated transcription [Quaedackers, et al, Endocrinology 142 :. 1156-1166 (2001), Bhat, et al., Journal of Steroid Biochemistry & Molecular Biology 67: 233-240 (1998), Pelzer, et al., Biochemical & Biophysical Research Communications 286: 1153-7 (2001)].

  In addition, the estrogen receptor can be activated by phosphorylation. This phosphorylation is mediated by growth factors such as EGF and causes changes in gene transcription in the absence of ligand [Moggs and Orphanides, EMBO Reports 2: 775-781 (2001), Hall, et al., Journal of Biological Chemistry 276: 36869-36872 (2001)].

  A means that is less well characterized by the ability of estrogens to affect cells is through so-called membrane receptors. Although the presence of such receptors is controversial, it has been demonstrated that estrogens can induce nongenomic responses from cells very rapidly. The molecules responsible for these altered effects are not actually isolated, but there is evidence that they are at least related to the nuclear form of the estrogen receptor [Levin, Journal of Applied Physiology 91: 1860-1867 (2001), Levin, Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism 10: 374-377 (1999)].

  Two estrogen receptors have been discovered to date. The first estrogen receptor was cloned about 15 years ago and is now referred to as ERα [Green, et al., Nature 320: 134-9 (1986)]. A second type of estrogen receptor has been found relatively recently and has been termed ERβ [Kuiper, et al., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 93: 5925-5930 (1996)]. Early work on ERβ focused on defining its affinity for various ligands and in fact showed some differences from ERα. The tissue distribution of ERβ is well located in rodents, which is not consistent with ERα. Tissues such as mouse and rat uterus preferentially express ERα, whereas mouse and rat lung preferentially express ERβ [Couse, et al., Endocrinology 138: 4613-4621 (1997) , Kuiper, et al., Endocrinology 138: 863-870 (1997)]. Even within the same tissue, the distribution of ERα and ERβ can be differentiated. For example, in mouse ovaries, ERβ is highly expressed in granule cells and ERα is restricted to the integument and stromal cells [Sar and Welsch, Endocrinology 140: 963-971 (1999), Fitzpatrick, et al., Endocrinology 140 : 2581-2591 (1999)]. However, there are examples where the receptor is co-expressed and in vitro studies have demonstrated that ERα and ERβ can form heterodimers [Cowley, et al., Journal of Biological Chemistry 272: 19858 -19862 (1997)].

  A number of compounds have been described that mimic or block the activity of 17β-estradiol. Compounds that have approximately the same biological effects as 17β-estradiol, the most potent endogenous estrogen, have been termed “estrogen receptor agonists”. Those that block the effect when given in combination with 17β-estradiol are referred to as “estrogen receptor antagonists”. In practice, there is a continuity between estrogen receptor agonist and estrogen receptor antagonist activity, and indeed some compounds are estrogen receptor agonists in some tissues and estrogen receptor in other tissues. Acts as a body antagonist. These compounds with mixed activity have been termed selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMS) and are therapeutically useful agents (eg, EVISTA) [McDonnell, Journal of the Society for Gynecologic Investigation 7: S10 -S15 (2000), Goldstein, et al., Human Reproduction Update 6: 212-224 (2000)]. The exact reason why the same compounds can have cell-specific effects is not elucidated, but differences in receptor conformation and / or differences in the environment of co-regulatory proteins have been pointed out.

  Estrogen receptors are known to adopt different configurations when bound to a ligand. However, the effects and subtleties of these changes have only recently been elucidated. The three-dimensional structure of ERα and ERβ is elucidated by co-crystallization with various ligands, in the presence of estrogen receptor antagonists that sterically mix protein sequences required for receptor-co-regulatory protein interactions. The rearrangement of helix 12 is clearly shown [Pike, et al., Embo 18: 4608-4618 (1999), Shiau, et al., Cell 95: 927-937 (1998)]. In addition, phage display methods have been used to identify peptides that interact with estrogen receptors in the presence of different ligands [Paige, et al., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 96: 3999-4004 (1999)]. For example, peptides have been identified that distinguish between the ERα bound to the full estrogen receptor agonists 17β-estradiol and diethylstilbesterol. Different peptides have been shown to distinguish between clomiphene bound to ERα and ERβ. These data indicate that each ligand potentially recognizes the receptor in its own unpredictable conformation that would have distinct biological activity.

  As mentioned above, estrogens affect a wide variety of biological processes. In addition, where gender differences are described (eg, disease frequency, response to challenge, etc.), the explanation may relate to differences in estrogen levels between men and women.

［式中：
Ｒ_１は、水素、ヒドロキシル、ハロゲン、１〜６個の炭素原子のアルキル、１〜６個の炭素原子のトリフルオロアルキル、３〜８個の炭素原子のシクロアルキル、１〜６個の炭素原子のアルコキシ、１〜６個の炭素原子のトリフルオロアルコキシ、１〜６個の炭素原子のチオアルキル、１〜６個の炭素原子のスルホキソアルキル、１〜６個の炭素原子のスルホノアルキル、６〜１０個の炭素原子のアリール、Ｏ、ＮまたはＳから選択される１〜４個のヘテロ原子を有する５または６員のヘテロサイクリック環、−ＮＯ_２、−ＮＲ_５Ｒ_６、−Ｎ（Ｒ_５）ＣＯＲ_６、−ＣＮ、−ＣＨＦＣＮ、−ＣＦ_２ＣＮ、２〜７個の炭素原子のアルキニルまたは２〜７個の炭素原子のアルケニルであり；ここに、該アルキルまたはアルケニル基は、ヒドロキシル、−ＣＮ、ハロゲン、１〜６個の炭素原子のトリフルオロアルキル、１〜６個の炭素原子のトリフルオロアルコキシ、−ＣＯＲ_５、−ＣＯ_２Ｒ_５、−ＮＯ_２、ＣＯＮＲ_５Ｒ_６、ＮＲ_５Ｒ_６またはＮ（Ｒ_５）ＣＯＲ_６により置換されていてもよく；
Ｒ_２およびＲ_２ａは、各々独立して、水素、ヒドロキシル、ハロゲン、１〜６個の炭素原子のアルキル、１〜４個の炭素原子のアルコキシ、２〜７個の炭素原子のアルケニルまたは２〜７個の炭素原子のアルキニル、１〜６個の炭素原子のトリフルオロアルキルまたは１〜６個の炭素原子のトリフルオロアルコキシであり；ここに、該アルキルまたはアルケニル基は、ヒドロキシル、−ＣＮ、ハロゲン、１〜６個の炭素原子のトリフルオロアルキル、１〜６個の炭素原子のトリフルオロアルコキシ、−ＣＯＲ_５、−ＣＯ_２Ｒ_５、−ＮＯ_２、ＣＯＮＲ_５Ｒ_６、ＮＲ_５Ｒ_６またはＮ（Ｒ_５）ＣＯＲ_６により置換されていてもよく；
Ｒ_３、Ｒ_３ａおよびＲ_４は、各々独立して、水素、１〜６個の炭素原子のアルキル、２〜７個の炭素原子のアルケニル、２〜７個の炭素原子のアルキニル、ハロゲン、１〜４個の炭素原子のアルコキシ、１〜６個の炭素原子のトリフルオロアルキルまたは１〜６個の炭素原子のトリフルオロアルコキシであり；ここに、該アルキルまたはアルケニル基は、ヒドロキシル、−ＣＮ、ハロゲン、１〜６個の炭素原子のトリフルオロアルキル、１〜６個の炭素原子のトリフルオロアルコキシ、−ＣＯＲ_５、−ＣＯ_２Ｒ_５、−ＮＯ_２、ＣＯＮＲ_５Ｒ_６、ＮＲ_５Ｒ_６またはＮ（Ｒ_５）ＣＯＲ_６により置換されていてもよく；
Ｒ_５、Ｒ_６は、各々独立して、水素、１〜６個の炭素原子のアルキル、６〜１０個の炭素原子のアリールであり；
ＸはＯ、ＳまたはＮＲ_７であり；
Ｒ_７は、水素、１〜６個の炭素原子のアルキル、６〜１０個の炭素原子のアリール、−ＣＯＲ_５、−ＣＯ_２Ｒ_５または−ＳＯ_２Ｒ_５である］
を有する式（Ｉ）で示されるエストロゲン化合物またはその医薬上許容される塩を提供する。 (Detailed description of the invention)
The present invention has the structural formula:

[Where:
R ₁ is hydrogen, hydroxyl, halogen, alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, trifluoroalkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl of 3 to 8 carbon atoms, 1 to 6 carbon atoms Alkoxy, 1 to 6 carbon atoms trifluoroalkoxy, 1 to 6 carbon atoms thioalkyl, 1 to 6 carbon atoms sulfoxoalkyl, 1 to 6 carbon atoms sulfonoalkyl, 6 aryl 10 carbon atoms, O, N, or heterocyclic rings of 5 or 6-membered having from 1 to 4 heteroatoms selected from _{S, -NO 2, -NR 5 R} 6, -N ( R ₅ ) COR ₆ , —CN, —CHFCN, —CF ₂ CN, alkynyl of 2 to 7 carbon atoms or alkenyl of 2 to 7 carbon atoms; wherein the alkyl or alkenyl group is a hydride Roxyl, —CN, halogen, trifluoroalkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, trifluoroalkoxy of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, —COR ₅ , —CO ₂ R ₅ , —NO ₂ , CONR ₅ R ₆ , Optionally substituted by NR ₅ R ₆ or N (R ₅ ) COR ₆ ;
R ₂ and R _2a are each independently hydrogen, hydroxyl, halogen, alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, alkoxy of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, alkenyl of 2 to 7 carbon atoms or 2 to 2 Alkynyl of 7 carbon atoms, trifluoroalkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms or trifluoroalkoxy of 1 to 6 carbon atoms; wherein the alkyl or alkenyl group is hydroxyl, —CN, halogen , trifluoroalkyl of 1-6 carbon atoms, trifluoromethyl alkoxy of 1 to 6 carbon _{atoms, -COR 5, -CO 2 R 5} , -NO 2, CONR 5 R 6, NR 5 R 6 or N Optionally substituted by (R ₅ ) COR ₆ ;
R ₃ , R _3a and R ₄ are each independently hydrogen, alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, alkenyl of 2 to 7 carbon atoms, alkynyl of 2 to 7 carbon atoms, halogen, 1 ˜4 carbon atoms alkoxy, 1-6 carbon atoms trifluoroalkyl or 1-6 carbon atoms trifluoroalkoxy; wherein the alkyl or alkenyl group is hydroxyl, —CN, halogen, trifluoroalkyl of 1-6 carbon atoms, trifluoromethyl alkoxy of 1 to 6 carbon _{atoms, -COR 5, -CO 2 R 5} , -NO 2, CONR 5 R 6, NR 5 R 6 or Optionally substituted by N (R ₅ ) COR ₆ ;
R ₅ and R ₆ are each independently hydrogen, alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, aryl of 6 to 10 carbon atoms;
X is O, S or NR ₇ ;
R ₇ is hydrogen, alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, aryl of 6 to 10 carbon atoms, —COR ₅ , —CO ₂ R ₅ or —SO ₂ R ₅ ]
An estrogen compound represented by the formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is provided.

  Pharmaceutically acceptable salts are organic and inorganic acids such as acetic acid, propionic acid, lactic acid, citric acid, tartaric acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, malon when the compound of the invention contains a basic group. Acid, mandelic acid, malic acid, phthalic acid, hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, phosphoric acid, nitric acid, sulfonic acid, methanesulfonic acid, naphthalenesulfonic acid, benzenesulfonic acid, toluenesulfonic acid, camphorsulfonic acid and similar known It can be formed from acceptable acids. Salts can also be formed from organic and inorganic bases when the compounds of the invention contain an acidic group, such as alkali metal salts (eg, sodium, lithium or potassium salts), alkaline earth metal salts. An ammonium salt, an alkyl ammonium salt containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms or a dialkyl ammonium salt containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms in each alkyl group and 1 to 6 carbon atoms in each alkyl group It may be a trialkylammonium salt contained.

The terms alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl include both branched and straight chain groups. Examples include methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, isopropyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, vinyl, allyl, acetylene, 1-methylvinyl and the like. When alkyl or alkenyl groups are substituted, they are typically mono, di, tri or per substituted. Examples of halogen substituents include 1-bromovinyl, 1-fluorovinyl, 1,2-difluorovinyl, 2,2-difluorovinyl, 1,2,2-trifluorovinyl, 1,2-dibromoethane, 1, 2 difluoroethane, 1-fluoro-2-bromoethane, CF ₂ CF ₃ , CF ₂ CF ₂ CF _{3 and the} like. The term halogen includes bromine, chlorine, fluorine and iodine. The term aryl means phenyl, 1-naphthyl or 2-naphthyl. Preferred 5- to 6-membered heterocyclic rings are furan, thiophene, pyrrole, isopyrrole, pyrazole, imidazole, triazole, dithiol, oxathiol, isoxazole, oxazole, thiazole, isothiazole oxadiazole, furazane, oxatriazole, di Including oxazole, oxathiazole, tetrazole, pyran, pyridine, pyridazine, pyrimidine, pyrazine, triazine, oxazine, oxathiazine or oxadiazine. It is preferred that the heterocyclic ring is furan, thiophene or thiazole.

［式中：
Ｒ_１は、２〜７個の炭素原子のアルケニルであり；ここに、該アルケニル基は、ヒドロキシル、−ＣＮ、ハロゲン、１〜６個の炭素原子のトリフルオロアルキル、１〜６個の炭素原子のトリフルオロアルコキシ、−ＣＯＲ_５、−ＣＯ_２Ｒ_５、−ＮＯ_２、ＣＯＮＲ_５Ｒ_６、ＮＲ_５Ｒ_６またはＮ（Ｒ_５）ＣＯＲ_６により置換されていてもよく；
Ｒ_２およびＲ_２ａは、各々独立して、水素、ヒドロキシル、ハロゲン、１〜６個の炭素原子のアルキル、１〜４個の炭素原子のアルコキシ、２〜７個の炭素原子のアルケニル、２〜７個の炭素原子のアルキニル、１〜６個の炭素原子のトリフルオロアルキルまたは１〜６個の炭素原子のトリフルオロアルコキシであり；ここに、該アルキル、アルケニルまたはアルキニル基は、ヒドロキシル、−ＣＮ、ハロゲン、１〜６個の炭素原子のトリフルオロアルキル、１〜６個の炭素原子のトリフルオロアルコキシ、−ＣＯＲ_５、−ＣＯ_２Ｒ_５、−ＮＯ_２、ＣＯＮＲ_５Ｒ_６、ＮＲ_５Ｒ_６またはＮ（Ｒ_５）ＣＯＲ_６により置換されていてもよい；
Ｒ_３およびＲ_３ａは、各々独立して、水素、１〜６個の炭素原子のアルキル、２〜７個の炭素原子のアルケニル、２〜７個の炭素原子のアルキニル、ハロゲン、１〜４個の炭素原子のアルコキシ、１〜６個の炭素原子のトリフルオロアルキルまたは１〜６個の炭素原子のトリフルオロアルコキシであり；ここに、該アルキル、アルケニルまたはアルキニル基は、ヒドロキシル、−ＣＮ、ハロゲン、１〜６個の炭素原子のトリフルオロアルキル、１〜６個の炭素原子のトリフルオロアルコキシ、−ＣＯＲ_５、−ＣＯ_２Ｒ_５、−ＮＯ_２、ＣＯＮＲ_５Ｒ_６、ＮＲ_５Ｒ_６またはＮ（Ｒ_５）ＣＯＲ_６により置換されていてもよく；
Ｒ_５、Ｒ_６は、各々独立して、水素、１〜６個の炭素原子のアルキル、６〜１０個の炭素原子のアリールであり；
ＸはＯ、ＳまたはＮＲ_７であり；
Ｒ_７は、水素、１〜６個の炭素原子のアルキル、６〜１０の炭素原子のアリール、−ＣＯＲ_５、−ＣＯ_２Ｒ_５または−ＳＯ_２Ｒ_５である］
で示される化合物またはその医薬上許容される塩であることが好ましい。 With respect to the compounds of the present invention, the compound of formula (I) has the structural formula:

[Where:
R ₁ is alkenyl of 2 to 7 carbon atoms; wherein the alkenyl group is hydroxyl, —CN, halogen, trifluoroalkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, 1 to 6 carbon atoms trifluoroacetic alkoxy _{of, -COR 5, -CO 2 R 5} , -NO 2, CONR 5 R 6, NR 5 R 6 or _N (R 5) may be substituted by COR _6;
R ₂ and R _2a are each independently hydrogen, hydroxyl, halogen, alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, alkoxy of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, alkenyl of 2 to 7 carbon atoms, 2 to Alkynyl of 7 carbon atoms, trifluoroalkyl of 1-6 carbon atoms or trifluoroalkoxy of 1-6 carbon atoms; wherein the alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl group is hydroxyl, —CN , halogen, trifluoroalkyl of 1-6 carbon atoms, trifluoromethyl alkoxy of 1 to 6 carbon _{atoms, -COR 5, -CO 2 R 5} , -NO 2, CONR 5 R 6, NR 5 R 6 Or optionally substituted by N (R ₅ ) COR ₆ ;
R ₃ and R _3a are each independently hydrogen, alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, alkenyl of 2 to 7 carbon atoms, alkynyl of 2 to 7 carbon atoms, halogen, 1 to 4 An alkoxy of 1 to 6 carbon atoms or a trifluoroalkoxy of 1 to 6 carbon atoms; wherein the alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl group is hydroxyl, —CN, halogen, , trifluoroalkyl of 1-6 carbon atoms, trifluoromethyl alkoxy of 1 to 6 carbon _{atoms, -COR 5, -CO 2 R 5} , -NO 2, CONR 5 R 6, NR 5 R 6 or N Optionally substituted by (R ₅ ) COR ₆ ;
R ₅ and R ₆ are each independently hydrogen, alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, aryl of 6 to 10 carbon atoms;
X is O, S or NR ₇ ;
R ₇ is hydrogen, alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, aryl of 6 to 10 carbon atoms, —COR ₅ , —CO ₂ R ₅ or —SO ₂ R ₅ ]
Or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

More preferably, X is O, X is O, and R ₁ is an alkenyl of 2 to 3 carbon atoms (which is a hydroxyl, —CN, halogen, trifluoroalkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms) , Substituted with 1 to 6 carbon atoms trifluoroalkoxy, —COR ₅ , —CO ₂ R ₅ , —NO ₂ , CONR ₅ R ₆ , NR ₅ R ₆ or N (R ₅ ) COR ₆ It is even more preferable.

  As used in accordance with the present invention, the term “giving” with respect to providing a compound or substance within the scope of the present invention refers to administering such a compound or substance directly or forming an effective amount of the compound or substance in the body. It means administering a wax prodrug, derivative or analog.

When used in accordance with the present invention, the term "ERβ selective ligand" is determined by the binding affinity _{(IC 50} for ERβ ligands, 17.beta.-estradiol _{IC 50} is _the only different at most 3 times between ERα and ERβ ) Is a standard pharmacological test method that measures binding affinity for ERα and ERβ and is at least about 10 times greater than its binding affinity for ERα. Preferably, the ERβ selective ligand has a binding affinity for ERβ that is at least about 20 times greater than the binding affinity for ERα. More preferably, the ERβ selective ligand has a binding affinity for ERβ that is at least about 50 times greater than the binding affinity for ERα. More preferably, the ERβ selective ligand is non-uterine hypertrophic and non-mammary stimulating.

  As used in accordance with the present invention, the term “non-uterine hypertrophic” is observed in standard pharmacological studies against the maximally effective dose of 17β-estradiol or 17α-ethynyl-17β-estradiol in the same manner. Means an increase in wet uterine weight that is less than about 50% of the increase in uterine weight. Preferably, the increase in uterine wet weight is less than about 25% of that observed for estradiol, and more preferably less than about 10% of that observed for estradiol. Most preferably, the non-uterine hypertrophic ERβ selective ligand does not significantly increase uterine wet weight (p> 0.05) compared to a control lacking uterine hypertrophy activity (eg, a vehicle).

  As used in accordance with the present invention, the term “non-mammary stimulating” is observed in standard pharmacological studies for the most effective dose of 17β-estradiol or 17α-ethynyl-17β-estradiol in the same manner. Means an increase in casein kinase II mRNA that is less than about 50% of the increase in casein kinase II mRNA produced. Preferably, the increase in casein kinase II mRNA is less than about 25% of that observed for estradiol, and more preferably less than about 10% of that observed for estradiol. Most preferably, the non-mammary stimulating ERβ selective ligand does not significantly increase casein kinase II mRNA (p> 0.05) compared to a control lacking non-mammary stimulating activity (eg, vehicle).

  The present invention also provides the use of ERβ selective ligands in the treatment or inhibition of arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and endometriosis. More specifically, ERβ selective ligands are in the treatment or prevention of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis or spondyloarthritis; and Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, atypical colitis, infectious colitis or ulcerative proctitis Useful. The invention further provides for the use of ERβ selective ligands in the treatment or inhibition of joint swelling or erosion; or the treatment or inhibition of joint damage associated with arthroscopic or surgical procedures. The ERβ selective ligand is preferably non-uterine hypertrophic and non-mammary stimulating.

  The reagents used in the preparation of the compounds of this invention are either commercially available or can be prepared by standard methods described in the literature.

［式中、Ｒ_１、Ｒ_２、Ｒ_２ａおよびＸは上記と同意義である］
で示される化合物を、式：

［式中、Ｒ_３およびＲ_３ａは上記と同意義であり、Ｙはハロゲン、−ＯＨまたは１〜６個の炭素原子のアルコキシである］
で示される化合物と反応させること；
または
ｂ）上記した式（ＩＩ）で示される化合物を、その医薬上許容される塩に変換すること；
または
ｃ）式（ＩＩ）で示される化合物の異性体混合物を分割して、式（ＩＩ）で示される化合物のエナンチオマーまたはその医薬上許容される塩を単離すること；
の１つを含む方法に関する。 In a further aspect, the present invention provides a process for the preparation of a compound of the invention comprising:
a) Formula:

[Wherein R ₁ , R ₂ , R _2a and X are as defined above]
A compound represented by the formula:

[Wherein R ₃ and R _3a are as defined above and Y is halogen, —OH or alkoxy of 1 to 6 carbon atoms]
Reacting with a compound of formula;
Or b) converting the compound of formula (II) described above into a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof;
Or c) separating an isomeric mixture of the compound of formula (II) and isolating the enantiomer of the compound of formula (II) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof;
A method comprising one of the following:

The compounds of the present invention can be prepared, for example, according to the following synthetic schemes (I to VIII).

  In Scheme I, commercially available dimethoxyaniline 1 was treated with commercially available benzoyl chloride 2 in the presence of triethylamine to give amide 3. The required benzoyl chloride 2 was prepared from commercially available benzoic acid 4 by refluxing with thionyl chloride. Amide 3 was converted to phenol benzoxazole 5 by treatment with pyridine hydrochloride at elevated temperature (200 ° C.).

In Scheme II, commercially available nitro - phenol 6, and brominated with _Br 2 / NaOAc in acetic acid, bromo - give the phenol 7. Aniline 8 was obtained by catalytic hydrogenation of 7 with Ra-Ni in EtOAc. 8 was coupled with benzoyl chloride 9 (commercially available or can be prepared from the corresponding benzoic acid and thionyl chloride) in the presence of pyridine to give amide-ester 10. Conversion of 10 to benzoxazole 11 was carried out at high temperature (150 ° C.) under acidic conditions (p-toluenesulfonic acid). 11 was demethylated with boron tribromide in dichloromethane to give phenol benzoxazole 12.

  In Scheme III, aniline 8 was converted to benzoxazole 14 by treatment with benzoic acid 13 and boric acid in p-xylene at elevated temperature (150 ° C.). 14 was demethylated with boron tribromide in dichloromethane to give phenol benzoxazole 15.

  In Scheme IV, nitration with nitric acid in 16 acetic acid gave 17 which was reduced with hydrogen in the presence of Ra-Ni to give aniline 18. Aniline 18 was converted to benzoxazole 19 in a manner similar to that described in Scheme II except that the demethylation step was performed with pyridine hydrochloride at high temperature (200 ° C.).

In Scheme V, the hydroxyl group of benzoxazole 20 is tert-butyldimethylsilyl chloride / imidazole / 4-dimethylaminopyridine in N, N-dimethylformamide with silyl ester 21 (R ₃ = Me ₃ C (CH ₃ ) as ₂ Si), or protected as an ester _{21 (R 3 = CH 3 CO} ) with acetic anhydride / 4-dimethylaminopyridine in dichloromethane. Benzoxazoles 20 and 21 can be synthesized with various tin reagents (ie tributyl (vinyl) tin, tributyl (allyl) tin, tributyl (2-furyl) tin), boronic acid or zinc chloride with a palladium catalyst [ie dichlorobis (tri -O-tolylphosphine) palladium (II) or tetrakis (triphenyl-phosphine) palladium (0)] in the presence of p-xylene, toluene, tetrahydrofuran, dimethoxymethane or 1,2-dimethoxyethane In the case of a ring reaction, coupling in the presence of a base (ie Na ₂ CO ₃ ) at a temperature in the range of 20-150 ° C. gave benzoxazoles 22 and 23.

The silyl ether of 22 (R ₃ = Me ₃ C (CH ₃ ) ₂ Si) was deprotected with hydrofluoric acid (48 wt% in water) or tetrabutylammonium fluoride to give benzoxazole 24. 22 (R ₃ = CH ₃ CO) was saponified with potassium carbonate in dioxane to give benzoxazole 24. Benzoxazole 23 (R = CH ₃ ) was demethylated with dichloromethane or boron tribromide in pyridine hydrochloride at elevated temperature (200 ° C.) to give benzoxazole 24.

In Scheme VI, benzoxazole 24 is treated with n-butyllithium at low temperature (−78 ° C.) and then an electrophile (ie, CNCO ₂ Et, Ph (CH ₃₎ NCHO, EtI, etc.) is added. Compound 25 was obtained. 25 is deprotected with boron tribromide (R = CH ₃ ) or tetrabutylammonium fluoride (R = Me ₃ C (CH ₃ ) ₂ Si) to give benzoxazole 26 [R = CHO, CO ₂ Et, CH ₂ CH _3, to obtain a _{C (CH 3) 2 OH]} .
The tertiary alcohol 25 (R═C (CH ₃ ) OH) was treated with pyridine hydrochloride at high temperature (200 ° C.) to give 1-methyl-vinylbenzoxazole 27. _27, was reduced with H 2 / Pd-C, to give the isopropyl analog 28.

In Scheme VII, benzoxazole 29 was reduced with sodium borohydride in methanol to give alcohol 30. 30 was treated with boron tribromide in CH ₂ Cl ₂ for 1 hour to give benzoxazole 31 and long term (18 hours) to give bromide 32. The bromide 32 was converted to acetonitrile 33 by treatment with potassium cyanide and 18-crown-6 ether in N, N-dimethylformamide.

In Scheme VIII, bromo-benzoxazole 35 (R = CH ₃ ) is first treated with copper (I) cyanide in DMF to give the corresponding aryl-nitrile, which is treated with boron tribromide. Thus, benzoxazole 36 was obtained. Benzoxazole 36 was also prepared by the second synthetic route. Treatment of bromo-benzoxazole 35 with zinc cyanide in the presence of a palladium catalyst [ie, tetrakis (triphenylphosphine) palladium (0)] to give the corresponding aryl-nitrile, which is treated with boron tribromide. Demethylation gave benzoxazole 36. Benzoxazole 35 (R = H) was treated with copper (I) bromide in DMF and freshly prepared sodium methoxide to give methoxy-benzoxazole 37. 37 was brominated with N-bromosuccinimide in acetonitrile to give monobromobenzoxazole 38 (main product) and dibromobenzoxazole 39 (byproduct).

  Standard pharmacological test methods are readily available for determining the activity characteristics of a given test compound. The following briefly describes some representative test methods and may include data for representative compounds of the present invention. All assays, with the exception of radioligand binding assays, can be used to measure an compound's estrogen receptor agonist or antagonist activity. In general, estrogen receptor agonist activity is measured by comparing the activity of a compound against a reference estrogen (eg, 17β-estradiol, 17α-ethynyl, 17β-estradiol, estrone, diethylstilbesterol, etc.). Estrogen receptor antagonist activity can generally be measured by co-treating a test compound with a reference estrogen and comparing the results to those obtained with the reference estrogen alone. Standard pharmacological test methods for SERM are described in US Pat. Nos. 4,418,068 and 5,998,402, which are incorporated herein by reference.

Evaluation of Binding Affinity for ERα and ERβ A representative example of the present invention evaluated its ability to compete with 17β-estradiol for both ERα and ERβ in a conventional radioligand binding assay. This test method provides one methodology for measuring relative binding affinity for ERα or ERβ receptors. The method used is briefly described below.

Preparation of receptor extract for characterization of binding selectivity. Contains a ligand binding domain (conveniently defined herein as all sequences downstream of the DNA binding domain), a full-length cDNA as a template, and appropriate restriction sites for subcloning, and an appropriate reading frame for expression. Obtained by PCR using retained primers. These templates include human ERα amino acids M ₂₅₀ -V ₅₉₅ [Green, et al., Nature 320: 134-9 (1986)] and human ERβ amino acids M ₂₁₄ -Q ₅₃₀ [Ogawa, et al., Biochemical & Biophysical Research Communications 243: 122-6 (1998)]. Human ERβ was cloned into pET15b (Novagen, Madison WI) as an Nco1-BamH1 fragment with a C-terminal Flag tag. Human ERα was cloned like human ERβ except that an N-terminal His tag was added. The sequence of all constructs used was confirmed by sequencing both strands completely.

  BL21 (DE3) cells were used to express human proteins. Typically, 10 mL overnight cultures were used to inoculate 1 L cultures of LB medium containing 100 μg / mL ampicillin. After overnight incubation at 37 ° C., IPTG was added to a final concentration of 1 mM and incubation was continued at 25 ° C. for 2 hours. The cells were harvested by centrifugation (1500 × g), the pellet washed and resuspended in 100 mL 50 mM Tris-Cl (pH 7.4), 150 mM NaCl. Cells were lysed by applying twice to a 12000 psi French press. The lysate was clarified by centrifugation at 12,000 × g for 30 minutes at 4 ° C. and stored at −70 ° C.

Evaluation of extracts for specific [< ³ > H] -estradiol binding. Dulbecco's phosphate buffered saline (Gibco, 1 × final concentration) supplemented with 1 mM EDTA was used as assay buffer. To optimize the amount of receptor for use in the assay, [ ³ H] -17β-estradiol (New England Nuclear; final concentration = 2 nM) ± 0.6 μM diethylstilbestrol and E. coli lysate 100 μL of various dilutions were added to each well of a high binding mask microtiter plate (EG & G Wallac). The final assay volume was 120 μL and the DMSO concentration was 1% or less. After incubation at room temperature for 5-18 hours, unbound material was aspirated and the plate was washed 3 times with approximately 300 μL of assay buffer. After washing, 135 μL of scintillation cocktail (Optiphase Supermix, EG & G Wallac) was added to the wells, the plates were sealed and agitated for at least 5 minutes to mix the scintillation material with the remaining wash buffer. Bound radioactivity was assessed by liquid scintillation counting (EG & G Wallac Microbeta Plus).

After measuring the dilution of each receptor preparation that gives maximum specific binding, the assay is further performed by evaluating the IC _{50 of} unlabeled 17β-estradiol using various dilutions of the receptor preparation. Optimized. The final processing dilution of each receptor preparation was selected such that the IC _{50 of} unlabeled 17β-estradiol is 2-4 nM.

Ligand binding competition test. Test compounds were first solubilized in DMSO, resulting in a final DMSO concentration of 1% or less in the binding assay. Eight dilutions of each test compound were used as unlabeled competitors to [ ³ H] -17β-estradiol. Typically, a set of compound dilutions will be tested simultaneously with human ERα and ERβ. The results were plotted as DPM measured against test compound concentration. For dose-response curve fitting, a four-parameter logistic model of transformed and weighted data was fitted and IC ₅₀ was defined as the concentration of compound that reduced 50% of the maximum [ ³ H] -estradiol binding.
The binding affinities (measured as IC ₅₀ ) for ERα and ERβ of representative examples of the invention are shown in Table (1).

The results obtained with the standard pharmacological test methods described above show that the compounds of the invention bind to both subtypes of the estrogen receptor. IC ₅₀ is generally lower for ERβ, indicating that these compounds are preferentially ERβ selective ligands, but are still considered active against ERα. The compounds of the present invention will exhibit a range of activities based at least in part on these receptor affinity selection properties. Since the compounds of the present invention bind ER-β with a higher affinity than ER-α, they will be useful in the treatment or inhibition of diseases that can be modulated through ER-β. In addition, since each receptor-ligand complex is unique and thus its interaction with various co-regulatory proteins is unique, the compounds of the present invention can, depending on the cellular context, It will show different and unpredictable activities. For example, in some cell types, the compound can act as an estrogen receptor agonist, while in other tissues it acts as an estrogen receptor antagonist. Compounds having such activity are referred to as SERMs (selective estrogen receptor modulators). However, unlike many estrogens, many SERMs do not cause an increase in wet uterine weight. These compounds are antiestrogenic in the uterus and can fully compete with the trophic effects of estrogen receptor agonists in uterine tissue. However, these compounds act as estrogen receptor agonists in the bone, cardiovascular and central nervous systems. Because of this tissue selectivity of these compounds, they are caused in mammals by estrogen deficiency (in certain tissues such as bone or cardiovascular) or estrogen excess (in uterus or mammary gland) or Useful for the treatment or inhibition of unaccompanied conditions or symptoms. In addition, the compounds of the present invention also act as estrogen receptor agonists for one receptor type, but also act as estrogen receptor antagonists for the other. For example, the compounds can antagonize the action of 17β-estradiol via ERβ, but have been shown to exhibit estrogen receptor agonist activity at ERα [Sun, et al., Endocrinology 140: 800-804 (1999)]. Such ERSAA (Estrogen Receptor Selective Agonist Antagonist) activity provides a pharmacologically distinct estrogenic activity for this series of compounds.

Regulation of metallothionein II mRNA The action of estrogen through ERβ but not through ERα upregulates metallothionein II mRNA levels in Saos-2 cells as described in Harris [Endocrinology 142: 645-652 (2001)]. be able to. The results of this test method can be combined with the results of the following test method (ERE receptor test method) to determine the selective properties of the compounds of the present invention (see also WO00 / 37681). Data for representative compounds of the invention is shown in Table (2).

Evaluation of test compounds using the ERE-receptor assay in MCF-7 breast cancer cells A stock solution of test compounds (usually 0.1 M) is prepared in DMSO and then diluted 10-100 times with DMSO to give 1 Alternatively, prepare a 10 mM treatment solution. The DMSO stock is stored at either 4 ° C. (0.1 M) or −20 ° C. (<0.1 M). MCF-7 cells were grown in growth medium [D containing 10% (v / v) heat-inactivated fetal bovine serum, 1% (v / v) penicillin-streptomycin and 2 mM glutamax-1. Passage twice a week with [MEM / F-12 medium]. Cells are maintained in vented flasks at 37 ° C. in a 5% CO ₂ /95% humidified air incubator. One day prior to treatment, the cells are plated in a 96 well plate at 25,000 cells / well with growth medium and incubated overnight at 37 ° C.

  Experimental medium [phenol red containing 10% (v / v) heat-inactivated charcoal-treated fetal bovine serum, 1% (v / v) penicillin-streptomycin, 2 mM glutamax-1, 1 mM sodium pyruvate In D-MEM / F-12 medium], cells are infected with 50 μL / well of a 1:10 dilution of adenovirus 5-ERE-tk-luciferase at 37 ° C. for 2 hours. The wells are washed once with 150 μL experimental medium. Finally, these cells were treated with 150 μL / well vehicle (0.1% v / v or less DMSO) or compounds diluted 1000-fold or more in experimental medium at 37 ° C. for 24 hours at 8 wells / treatment repetition. To do.

Initial screening of test compounds is performed at a single dose of 1 μM with the test compound alone (estrogen receptor agonist mode) or in combination with 0.1 nM 17β-estradiol (EC ₈₀ ; estrogen receptor antagonist mode). Each 96-well plate also includes a vehicle control group (0.1% v / v DMSO) and an estrogen receptor agonist control group (either 0.1 or 1 nM 17β-estradiol). Dose-response experiments are performed in either the estrogen receptor agonist and / or estrogen receptor antagonist mode of the active compound logarithmically increasing to 10 ⁻¹⁴ to 10 ⁻⁵ M. From these dose-response curves, EC ₅₀ values IC ₅₀ values can be obtained respectively. The final well of each treatment group contains 5 μL of 3 × 10 ⁻⁵ M ICI-182,780 (10 ⁻⁶ M final concentration) as an estrogen receptor antagonist control.

  After treatment, cells are lysed on a shaker with 25 μL / well of 1 × cell culture lysis reagent (Promega Corporation) for 15 minutes. Cell lysate (20 μL) is transferred to a 96-well luminometer plate and luciferase activity is measured on a MicroLumat LB 96 P luminometer (EG and G Bethold) using 100 μL / well luciferase substrate (Promega Corporation). Prior to injecting the substrate, a 1 second background measurement is performed on each well. After injecting the substrate, luciferase activity is measured for 10 seconds after a 1 second delay. Data was transferred from the luminometer to a Macintosh personal computer and analyzed using JMP software (SAS Institute); this program subtracted the background reading from each well's luciferase measurement, and the mean and standard deviation of each treatment Measure.

A Huber M-estimator is used to log-transform the luciferase data and weight the out-of-range transformed observations. The transformed and weighted data is analyzed for one-way ANOVA (Dunnet test) using JMP software. Compound treatment is compared to vehicle control results for estrogen receptor agonist mode or positive estrogen receptor agonist control results for estrogen receptor antagonist (0.1 nM 17β-estradiol). For the first single dose experiment, if the compound treatment results were significantly different from the appropriate control (p <0.05), the results were expressed as a percentage of the 17β-estradiol control [ie (((compound-vehicle control ) / (17β-estradiol control-vehicle control)) × 100]. JMP software is also used to measure EC ₅₀ and / or IC ₅₀ values from non-linear dose-response curves.

Evaluation of Uterine Hypertrophy Activity The uterine hypertrophy activity of a test compound can be measured according to the following standard pharmacological test.
Method 1: Sexually immature (18 day old) Sprague-Dawley (Sprague-Dawley) rats are obtained from Taconic and given a casein-based diet (Purina Mills 5K96C) and water without restriction. On days 19, 20 and 21, rats are administered subcutaneously 17α-ethynyl-17β-estradiol (0.06 μg / rat / day), test compound or vehicle (50% DMSO / 50% Dulbecco's PBS). To assess estrogen receptor antagonist activity, compounds are co-administered with 17α-ethynyl-17β-estradiol (0.06 μg / rat / day). There are 6 rats / group, which are euthanized by CO ₂ asphyxiation and pneumothorax approximately 24 hours after the final injection. Remove the uterus, scrape the attached fat, squeeze out the internal fluid and weigh. Tissue samples can also be snap frozen for analysis of gene expression (eg, complement factor 3 mRNA). The results obtained from the representative compounds of the present invention are shown in Table (3).

Method 2: Sexually immature (18 day old) 129 SvE mice are obtained from Taconic and given an unlimited casein-based diet (Purina Mills 5K96C) and water. On days 22, 23, 24 and 25, mice are dosed subcutaneously with compound or vehicle (corn oil). There are 6 mice / group, which are euthanized by CO ₂ asphyxiation and pneumothorax approximately 6 hours after the final injection. Remove the uterus, scrape the attached fat, squeeze out the internal fluid and weigh. Results (Table (4)) for representative compounds of the invention were obtained.

Evaluation of osteoporosis and lipid regulation (cardioprotection) Ovariectomized or sham operated female Sprague-Dawley rats are obtained from Taconic Farms one day postoperatively (weight range 240-275 g). They are housed indoors on a 12/12 (light / dark) schedule, 3 or 4 rats / cage, and given food (Purina 5K96C rat diet) and water indefinitely. Treatment for all studies begins 1 day after arrival and rats are dosed 7 days per week for 6 weeks. A group of age-matched sham-operated rats not receiving any treatment is an untreated estrogen-rich control group for each study.

  All test compounds were in a vehicle of 50% DMSO (JT Baker, Phillipsburg, NJ) / 1x Dulbeccoline Saline (GibcoBRL, Grand Island, NY) so that the treatment volume was 0.1 mL / 100 g body weight. Prepare at a predetermined concentration. 17β-estradiol is dissolved in corn oil (20 μg / mL) and administered subcutaneously at 0.1 mL / rat. All doses are adjusted at 3 week intervals by group body weight measurements and administered subcutaneously.

  Each rat is evaluated for bone mineral density (BMD) 5 weeks after the start of treatment and 1 week before the end of the study. Proximal tibial total and trabecular density is assessed in rats anesthetized with XCT-960M (pQCT; Stratec Medizintechnik, Pforzheim, Germany). Measurements are performed as follows: 15 minutes prior to scanning, each rat is anesthetized with an intraperitoneal injection of 45 mg / kg ketamine, 8.5 mg / kg xylazine and 1.5 mg / kg acepromazine.

  The right hind limb is passed through a polycarbonate tube with a diameter of 25 mm, and the tarsal joint is attached to the acrylic frame at 90 ° and the knee joint at 180 °. The polycarbonate tube is secured to a slide platform that holds it perpendicular to the opening of the pQCT. The platform is adjusted so that the distal end of the femur and the proximal end of the tibia are within the scan range. A two-dimensional scout image is obtained with a length of 10 mm and a line resolution of 0.2 mm. After the scout image is displayed on the monitor, the position of the proximal end of the tibia is confirmed. A pQCT scan is initiated 3.4 mm distal from this point. The pQCT scan is 1 mm wide, has a voxel (three-dimensional pixel) size of 0.140 mm, and consists of 145 projected images through a slice.

After the pQCT scan is completed, the image is displayed on the monitor. A region of interest including the tibia but not the ribs is shown. Soft tissue is mathematically removed using an iterative algorithm. The remaining bone density (total density) is recorded in mg / cm ³ . The outer 55% of the bone is mathematically peeled off in a concentric helix. The remaining bone density (trabecular density) is recorded in mg / cm ³ .

One week after BMD assessment, rats are euthanized by CO ₂ asphyxiation and pneumothorax, and blood is collected for cholesterol measurements. Also, the weight is measured after removing the uterus, scraping the attached fat, and squeezing out the luminal fluid. Total cholesterol is measured using a Boehringer-Mannheim Hitachi 911 clinical analyzer using a cholesterol / HP kit. Statistics were compared by Dunnett's test using one-way analysis of variance.

The following results were obtained with representative compounds of the present invention (Table (5)).

Evaluation of Antioxidant Activity Porcine aorta is obtained from a slaughterhouse, washed, transferred into cold PBS, and aortic endothelial cells are harvested. To harvest the cells, the aortic tube between the ribs is tied and tied, and one end of the aorta is fixed. Fresh, filter sterilized, 0.2% collagenase (Sigma I type) is placed in the vessel, and then the other end of the vessel is fixed to form a closed system. The aorta is incubated at 37 ° C. for 15-20 minutes, after which the collagenase solution is collected and centrifuged at 2000 × g for 5 minutes. Each pellet was phenol red supplemented with charcoal-treated FBS (5%), NuSerum (5%), L-glutamine (4 mM), penicillin-streptomycin (1000 U / ml, 100 μg / ml) and gentamicin (75 μg / ml). Suspend in 7 mL of endothelial cell culture medium consisting of DMEM / Ham F12 free medium, inoculate into a Petri dish and incubate at 37 ° C. in 5% CO ₂ . After 20 minutes, the cells are washed with PBS, fresh medium is added, and this is repeated again for 24 hours. Cells become confluent after about a week. Endothelial cells are fed regularly twice a week and, when confluent, trypsinized and inoculated at a ratio of 1: 7. Proceed for 4 hours at 37 ° C. in the presence of the compound to be assessed for cell-mediated oxidation of LDL at 12.5 μg / mL (5 μM). The results are measured as a percent inhibition of the oxidation process as measured by the TBARS (thiobarbituric acid reactive substance) method for analyzing free aldehydes [Yagi, Biochemical Medicine 15: 212-6 (1976)].

Progesterone Receptor mRNA Regulation Standard Pharmacological Test Method This test method can be used to evaluate the estrogenic or antiestrogenic activity of the compounds of the present invention [Shughrue, et al., Endocrinology 138: 5476-5484 (1997)] . Data for representative compounds of the invention is shown in Table (6).

The effect of the test compound on the hot flash in the rat hot flash test method measures the ability of the test compound to blunt the increase in tail skin temperature that occurs when morphine-addicted rats suddenly stop using the drug with naloxone Standard pharmacological test methods [Merchenthaler, et al., Maturitas 30: 307-16 (1998)]. It can also be used to detect estrogen receptor antagonist activity by co-administering a test compound with a reference estrogen. The following data were obtained from representative compounds of the present invention (Table (7)).

Assessment of vasomotor function in isolated rat aortic rings Spirage Dawley rats (240-260 grams) are divided into four groups:
1. Normal ovariectomy (untreated) group2. 2. Ovariectomized (Obex) vehicle treated group 3. Ovariectomized group treated with 17β-estradiol (1 mg / kg / day) Ovariectomized animals treated with test compound (various doses)

  Animals are ovariectomized approximately 3 weeks prior to treatment. Each animal receives either 17-β-estradiol sulfate (1 mg / kg / day) or test compound suspended in distilled deionized water containing 1% Tween-80 in the stomach by tube. . Vehicle treated animals were dosed in an amount commensurate with the vehicle used in the drug treated group.

Animals are euthanized by CO ₂ inhalation and exsanguination. The thoracic aorta is immediately removed and NaCl (54.7), KCl (5.0), NaHCO ₃ (25.0), MgCl ₂ 2H ₂ O (2.5), D-glucose (11.8) and Place in a physiological solution at 37 ° C. with 95% / 5% CO ₂ —O ₂ gas and a final pH of 7.4, with a composition (mM) of CaCl ₂ (0.2). The outer membrane is removed from the outer surface and the blood vessel is cut into a 2-3 mm wide ring. The ring is suspended in a 10 mL tissue bath with one end attached to the bottom of the bath and the other attached to the force transducer. Apply 1 gram of static tension to the ring. The ring is allowed to equilibrate for 1 hour and the signal is acquired and analyzed.

After equilibration, the rings are exposed to increasing concentrations of (10 ⁻⁸ to 10 ⁻⁴ M) phenylephrine and the tension is recorded. The bath is then washed 3 times with fresh buffer. After washing, 200 mM L-NAME is added to the tissue bath and allowed to equilibrate for 30 minutes. The phenylephrine concentration response curve is then repeated.

Evaluation of cardioprotective activity Apolipoprotein E-deficient C57 / B1J (apoEKO) mice are obtained from Taconic Farms. All animal treatments are performed under strict compliance with IACUC guidelines. Ovariectomized female apo E KO mice (4-7 weeks old) are housed in shoe box cages and given food and water ad libitum. Animals are randomized into groups by body weight (n = 12-15 mice per group). Using an accurate dosing protocol that measures the amount of food consumed weekly and adjusts the dose based on the animal's body weight, the animal is tested for dietary test compound or estrogen (1 mg / kg / day at 17β- Estradiol sulfate) is administered. The diet used was a Western-style diet (57U5), provided by Purina, containing 0.50% cholesterol, 20% lard and 25 IU / KG vitamin E. Use this paradigm to administer / feed to animals for 12 weeks. Control animals are fed a Western-style diet and do not receive any compounds. At the end of the study period, animals are euthanized and plasma samples are obtained. The heart is perfused in the system, first with saline and then with neutral buffered 10% formalin solution.

  To measure plasma lipids and lipoproteins, total cholesterol and triglycerides are measured using enzymatic methods with kits commercially available from Boehringer Mannheim and Wako Biochemicals, respectively, and analyzed using a Boehringer Mannheim Hitachii 911 analyzer. Plasma lipoproteins were separated and quantified using the FPLC size fractionation method. Briefly, 50-100 mL of serum is filtered and injected into a series of Superose 12 and Superose 6 columns, eluting with 1 mM sodium EDTA and 0.15 M NaCl at a constant flow rate. The areas of the curves representing VLDL, LDL and HDL, respectively, were integrated using Waters Millennium® software, and each lipoprotein fraction was calculated as the total cholesterol value and the relative percent area of each chromatogram peak. Quantify by multiplying.

  To quantify aortic atherosclerosis, the aorta is carefully isolated and placed in formalin fixative for 48-72 hours prior to processing. Atherosclerotic lesions are identified using Oil Red O staining. Blood vessels are easily destained and images are obtained using a Nikon SMU800 microscope equipped with a Sony 3CCD video camera system, which corresponds to the IMAQ Configuration Utility (National Instrument) as image acquisition software. Lesions are quantified anteriorly along the aortic arch using a custom threshold utility software package (Coleman Technologies). Automated lesion assessment is performed using the program's threshold function in blood vessels, particularly in the area contained within the arterial arch from the proximal edge of the brachiocephalic artery to the distal edge of the left subclavian artery. Aortic atherosclerosis data is shown as a percentage of lesions that are precisely involved within this given luminal area.

Evaluation of cognitive enhancement Ovariectomized rats (n = 50) are habituated to the 8-arm radial maze for 10 minutes on each of 5 consecutive days. Animals are not watered before habituation and prior to testing. An aliquot of 100 μL of water placed at the end of each arm serves as a strengthening agent. Acquisition of a successful radial-maze win-shift task is achieved by having an animal access one bait arm. After drinking, the animal exits the arm, enters the central compartment again, and accesses the previously accessed arm or a new arm. If the animal selects a new arm, the exact response is recorded. Each animal is tested 5 times per day for 3 days. After the final acquisition test, animals are assigned to one of four groups:
1. Negative control: 10% DMSO / sesame oil vehicle (1 mL / kg, SC) is injected once daily for 6 days. Positive control: injected with 17β-estradiol benzoate for 2 days and tested 4 days after the second injection (17β-estradiol benzoate at 10 μg / 0.1 mL per rat).
3. Estradiol: 17β-estradiol will be injected once daily for 6 days (20 μg / kg, SC).
4). Test compound: injected once a day for 6 days (dose varies).

All injections will begin after the last day of the acquisition test. The final injections for Groups 1, 3 and 4 are made 2 hours before testing the working memory.
The working memory test is a delayed unsampled task (DNMS) that utilizes a delay of 15, 30, or 60 seconds. This task is a variation of the mastering task that places the rat in the central arena and enters one arm as described above. When the rat has reached half of the first arm, the second arm is opened and the rat is forced to select this arm. When it reaches half of this second arm, both doors are closed and a delay is started. When the delay time ends, both the original two doors and the third new door are opened simultaneously. Record the exact response when the animal reaches half of the third new arm. Inaccurate responses are recorded when the animal comes to either half of the first or second arm. Each animal will receive 5 tests at each of the 3 delay intervals and a total of 15 tests per subject.

Evaluation of the effect on pleurisy The ability to reduce the signs of experimentally induced pleurisy in rats can be evaluated according to the method of Cuzzoclear [Endocrinology 141: 1455-63 (2000)].

Assessment of protection against glutamate-induced cytotoxicity (neuroprotection) The neuroprotective activity of the present invention can be assessed by standard pharmacological assays in vitro using glutamate challenge [Zaulyanov, et al., Cellular & Molecular Neurobiology 19: 705-18 (1999); Prokai, et al., Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 44: 110-4 (2001)].

Evaluation in the mammary gland end bud assay Estrogen is required for total duct elongation and branching of the duct and subsequent development of alveolar leaflet end buds under the influence of progesterone. In this test method, the mammary gland stimulating activity of selected compounds of the present invention was evaluated according to the following pharmacological test method. 28-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats (Taconic Farms) were ovariectomized and allowed to rest for 9 days. The animals were housed under a 12 hour light / dark cycle, given casein-based Purina Laboratory Rodent diet 5K96 (Purina, Richmond, IN) and water without limitation. Rats were then treated for 6 days with vehicle (50% DMSO (JT Baker, Phillipsburg, NJ) / 50% 1 × Dulbeccolate Buffered Saline (Gibco BRL), 17β-estradiol (0.1 mg / kg) or Test compound (20 mg / kg) was administered subcutaneously, and rats were administered subcutaneously with progesterone (30 mg / kg) for the last 3 days On day 7, the rats were euthanized and the mammary fat pad was excised. This fat pad was analyzed for casein kinase II mRNA as a marker of terminal bud proliferation, which was analyzed by real-time RT-PCR, in brief using Trizol (Gibco BRL) according to the manufacturer's instructions. RNA is isolated and traced, and the sample is DNA-Free kit (Am The casein kinase II mRNA levels were measured by real-time RT-PCR using the Taqman Gold method (PE Applied Biosystems), and a total amount of 50 ng of RNA was measured using a casein kinase II specific primer pair ( 5 ′ primer, CACACGGATGGCCGACTACT; 3 ′ primer, CTCGGGATGCACCCATGAAG) and customized probe (TAMRA-CGGCACTGGTTTCCCCTCACATGCT-FAM) were used to analyze casein kinase II mRNA levels using the primers and probes provided by PE Applied Biosystems. And normalized to the 18s ribosomal RNA contained within each sample reaction. They were obtained results (Table (8)).

Evaluation in HLA rat standard pharmacological test method for inflammatory bowel disease Representative compounds of the present invention were evaluated in HLA rat standard pharmacological test method emulating human inflammatory bowel disease. The method used and the results obtained are briefly described below. Male HLA-B27 rats were obtained from Taconic and were fed food (PMILab diet 5001) and water without limitation. Stool characteristics were observed daily and scored on the following scale: diarrhea = 3; soft stool = 2; normal stool = 1. At the end of the study, serum was collected and stored at -70 ° C. Colon sections were prepared for histological analysis and additional portions of myeloperoxidase activity were analyzed.

In Study A, rats (22-26 weeks of age) were administered subcutaneously once daily for 7 days according to one of the schedules shown below. Each group had 5 rats and the last dose was administered 2 hours before euthanasia.
Vehicle (50% DMSO / 50% Dulbecco's PBS)
-Example 24 (50 mg / kg)

  The results of Study A are shown in Table (9). Rats receiving vehicle had diarrhea during the study period. Stool properties were improved in rats treated with Example 24.

In Study B, rats (8-10 weeks old) were orally administered for 26 days as follows:
Vehicle (2% Tween-80 / 0.5% methylcellulose)
Example 25 (10 mg / kg on days 1-14; then increase to 20 mg / kg on day 15)
Example 34 (10 mg / kg)

  The following results were obtained (Table (10)), indicating that stool characteristics were improved in all rats treated with representative compounds of the present invention.

In Study C, rats (8-10 weeks old) were orally administered one of the following formulations once a day for 46 days. Each group had 4 rats and the final dose was administered 2 days before euthanasia.
Vehicle (2% Tween-80 / 0.5% methylcellulose)
Example 21 (10 mg / kg on days 1-18; then increase to 20 mg / kg on day 19)
Example 24 (10 mg / kg on days 1-24; then increase to 20 mg / kg on day 25)

  The following results were obtained (Table (11)), indicating that administration of all ERβ selective compounds improved stool characteristics:

Histological analysis Colon tissue was soaked in 10% neutral buffered formalin. Each colon specimen was divided into four samples for evaluation. Formalin-fixed tissue was processed with a Tissue Tek vacuum infiltration processor (Miles, Inc; West Haven, Connecticut) for paraffin embedding. Samples were sectioned at 5 μm and then stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H & E) for blind histological evaluation using a modified scale after Bouton-Smith. After all scores were collected, the samples were unblinded and the data were aggregated with an ANOVA linear model with multiple average comparisons. Colon tissue sections were evaluated with several disease indices to obtain correlation scores. As shown in Table (12) (combination of two subcutaneous administration studies including Study A), Example 24 is effective in reducing some measurements of tissue injury.

  Intestinal tissue from Study B (described above) was also histologically examined. As shown below (Table (13)), both compounds significantly reduced the total score.

  Intestinal tissue from Study B (described above) was also histologically examined. As shown below (Table (14)), Example 24 significantly reduced the total score. The score of Example 21 for all disease parameters was lower than that of the corresponding vehicle-treated rats, although not statistically significant.

Evaluation of two models of arthritis Lewis rat assay for adjuvant-induced arthritis. Sixty female 12-week-old Lewis rats are bred according to standard equipment operating procedures. They get unlimited food and water on a standard plan. Each animal is identified by a cage card indicating the study group and animal number. Each rat number is recorded on the tail with indelible ink. At least 10-21 days before the study, they are anesthetized and ovariectomized by standard aseptic surgery.

  Complete Freund's adjuvant (Sigma Immuno Chemicals, St. Louis, MO) was used to induce arthritis, each 1 mL was heat sterilized, dried 1 mg tuberculosis, 0.85 mL mineral oil and 0.15 mL mannide Contains mannide monooleate lot number 084H8800.

  The following are examples of two test methods. Inhibition test method: 30 rats are injected with 0.1 mL at the base of the tail. The animals were randomized into 4 groups, each group containing 6 rats. Daily, vehicle (50% DMSO (JT Baker, Phillipsburg, NJ) / 1x Dulbeccoline Oxidated Saline (GibcoBRL, Grand Island, NY)) or test compound (subcutaneous administration) is given to groups. All rats begin treatment on day 1. Data on representative compounds of the present invention is shown in Table (15).

  Treatment Test Method: 0.1 mL of complete Freund's adjuvant is administered intradermally at the base of the tail of 30 rats. The animals were randomized into 4 groups, each group containing 6 rats. Daily, vehicle (50% DMSO (JT Baker, Phillipsburg, NJ) / 1x Dulbeccoline Oxidated Saline (GibcoBRL, Grand Island, NY)) or test compound (subcutaneous administration) is given to groups. All rats begin treatment 8 days after adjuvant injection. Data on representative compounds of the invention are shown in Tables (16), (17) and (18).

  Statistical analysis was performed using Abacus Concepts Super ANOVA (Abacus Concepts, Inc., Berkeley, CA). All parameters of interest were subjected to analysis of variance with Duncan's new multi-range post hoc test between groups. Data were presented throughout as mean ± standard deviation (SD) and differences were considered significant if p <0.05.

  The severity of arthritis is measured daily with the following disease indicators: hindfoot erythema, hindfoot swelling, joint tenderness and movement and posture. Using integer values of 0-3, erythema (0 = normal paws, 1 = mild erythema, 2 = moderate erythema) and swelling (for hind legs, 0 = normal paws, The level of 1 = mild swelling, 2 = moderate swelling, 3 = severe swelling) is quantified. This maximum score is 12 per day.

At the end of the study, the rats were euthanized with CO ₂ , the hind limbs were removed at necropsy, fixed in 10% buffered formalin, the tarsal joints were decalcified and embedded in paraffin. Histological sections are stained with hematoxylin and eosin or safranin O-fast green staining.

  The slides are labeled so that the treatment group is not known to the tester. Synovial tissue from the tarsal joint is assessed based on synovial hyperplasia, inflammatory cell infiltration and pannus formation as described below [Poole and Coombs, International Archives of Allergy & Applied Immunology 54: 97-113 (1977) ].

  In addition, articular cartilage and bone are evaluated using Mankin's histological scoring system as shown below [Mankin, et al., Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery-American Volume 53: 523-37 (1971). )].

  Evaluation in the HLA-B27 rat model of arthritis. Representative compounds of the present invention were evaluated in the HLA-B27 rat standard pharmacological test method emulating human arthritis. The method used and the results obtained are briefly described below. Male HLA-B27 rats are obtained from Taconic and fed an unlimited diet (PMI Lab diet 5001) and water. Joint scores and histology are assessed as in the Lewis rat model of adjuvant-induced arthritis described above.

Study 1: Rats (8-10 weeks old) were administered one of the following formulations once a day for 46 days. Each group had 4 rats and the last dose was given 2 hours before euthanasia.
Vehicle (2% Tween-80 / 0.5% methylcellulose)
Example 21 (10 mg / kg on days 1-18; then increase to 20 mg / kg on day 19)
Example 24 (10 mg / kg on days 1 to 24; then increase to 20 mg / kg on day 25)

  The following results were obtained for representative compounds of the invention (Tables (19) and (20)).

Study 2: Rats (8-10 weeks old) were orally administered one of the following formulations for 26 days. Each group had 4 rats and the last dose was given 2 hours before euthanasia.
Vehicle (2% Tween-80 / 0.5% methylcellulose)
Example 25 (10 mg / kg on days 1-14; then increase to 20 mg / kg on day 15)
-Example 34 (10 mg / kg)

The following results were obtained for representative compounds of the present invention (Table (21)).

Evaluation of carcinogenicity in in vivo models The ability of the compounds of the present invention to treat and inhibit various malignancies or hyperproliferative disorders is readily found in the literature and can be determined using standard pharmacological test methods including the following two methods: Can be evaluated.

breast cancer. Athymic nu / nu (nude) mice are obtained by ovariectomy from Charles River Laboratories (Wilmington, Mass.). One day prior to tumor cell injection, animals are implanted with sustained release pellets (60 or 90 days release, Innovative Research of America, Sarasota, FL) or placebo containing 0.36-1.7 mg 17β-estradiol. The pellet is administered subcutaneously to the area within the scapula using a 10-gauge precision trochar. Subsequently, the mouse breast tissue is injected subcutaneously with 1 × 10 ⁷ MCF-7 cells or 1 × 10 ⁷ BG-1 cells. Cells are mixed with the same volume of Matrigel, a basement membrane matrix preparation that enhances tumor colonization. The test compound can be evaluated one day after tumor cell implantation (inhibition regimen) or by administration one day after the tumor reaches a certain size (treatment regimen). Compounds are administered intraperitoneally or orally daily in 1% Tween-80 vehicle in saline. Tumor size is assessed every 3 or 7 days.
Colon cancer. The ability to treat or inhibit colon cancer can be assessed by the Smirnoff test [Oncology Research 11: 255-64 (1999)].

Evaluation of neuroprotection in two in vivo tests Transient global ischemia in gerbils. The effect of the test compound on the prevention or treatment of brain damage related to hypoxia / reperfusion can be measured using the following test method.

Female gerbils (60-80 g; Charles River Laboratories, Kingston, NY) were placed in tap water and low estrogen casein diet (12 hours light, 12 hours dark photoperiod) in a Wyeth-Ayerst animal breeding facility (AAALAC certified). (Purina; Richmond, IN). After acclimatization (after 3-5 days), gerbils were anesthetized with isofullerene (2-3% O ₂ mixture) and ovariectomized (day 0). Beginning the next morning (Day 1), gerbils were daily administered subcutaneously with either vehicle (10% ETOH / corn oil), 17β-estradiol (1 mg / kg, sc) or experimental compound. On day 6, gerbils (n = 4-5 / group) were anesthetized with isoflurane, the common carotid artery was visualized by a midline incision, and both arteries were occluded simultaneously with a non-traumatic microaneurysm clip for 5 minutes. . After occlusion, the clip was removed, brain reperfused, and the incision was closed with a wound clip. All animals are fasted overnight prior to total ischemic surgery and this process promotes consistent ischemic injury. On day 12, gerbils were exposed to a lethal dose of CO ₂ and brains were frozen on dry ice and stored at −80 ° C. The animal protocols used in these studies have been reviewed and approved by the Radnor / Collegeville Animal Care and Use Committee (RACUC / CACUC) at Wyeth-Ayerst Research.

The degree of neuronal protection was assessed by in situ hybridization analysis of neurogranin mRNA. Briefly, 20 μm coronary cryostat sections were collected on gelatin-coated slides, dried and stored at −80 ° C. At the time of processing, the dried slide box was warmed to room temperature and the slides were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde, treated with acetic anhydride, then defatted and dehydrated with chloroform and ethanol. The treated slides were then treated with 200 μl (6 × 10 ⁶ DPM / slide) of neurogranin ( ³⁵ S-UTP-labeled NG-241; 99-340 bases) antisense or sense ( Control) Hybridized with riboprobe in 50% formamide hybridization mixture and incubated overnight at 55 ° C. in a humidified slide chamber without cover glass. The next morning, slides were collected in a rack, soaked in 2 × SSC (0.3 M NaCl, 0.03 M sodium citrate; pH 7.0) / 10 mM DTT, treated with RNase A (20 μg / ml), Washing at 67 ° C. in 0.1 × SSC (2 × 30 minutes) removed non-specific label. After dehydration, the slides are faced overnight with BioMax (BMR-1; Kodak) X-ray film.

  The level of neurogranin hybridization signal was used to quantitatively assess the extent of neuronal loss in the CA1 region after injury and to assess the effects of 17β-estradiol and experimental compounds. Neurogranin mRNA was selected for this study because it is highly expressed in hippocampal neurons, including CA1, but not in glial cells and other types of cells present in this brain region. Thus, measurement of neurogranin mRNA abundance is indicative of surviving neurons. Relative optical density measurements of the neurogranin hybridization signal were obtained from film autoradiograms using a computer image analysis system (C-Imaging Inc., Pittsburgh, PA). Results from 6 sections per animal (separately 40 μm apart) were averaged and statistically evaluated. Numerical values were recorded as mean ± SEM. One-way analysis of variance is used to test for differences in neurogranin mRNA levels. All statements of no difference in the results section mean p> 0.05.

The following results were obtained with representative compounds of the present invention (Table (22)).

  Middle cerebral artery occlusion in mice. Neuroprotection is described in Dubal [Dubal, et al., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 98: 1952-1957 (2001), Dubal, et al., Journal of Neuroscience 19: 6385-6393 (1999 Can be evaluated according to the test method described in the above.

Ovulation Inhibition Standard Pharmacological Test Method This test method is used to test whether a test compound can inhibit or alter the time of ovulation. It can also be used to determine the number of ovulated oocytes [Lundeen, et al., J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 78: 137-143 (2001)]. The following data were obtained from representative compounds of the invention (Table (23)).

Evaluation in endometriosis standard pharmacology test method This method slightly modifies the published method [Bruner-Tran. Et al., Journal of Clinical Investigation 99: 2851-2857 (1997)]. Briefly, normal human endometrial tissue (approximately 12 cycle days) is treated with 10 nM 17β-estradiol overnight in vitro and then implanted into ovariectomized athymic nude mice. For the purposes of this study, mice are not given estrogen / placebo implantation as described in the article. It should be noted that lesions are allowed to probable for at least 10 days and then daily oral dosing is started and all mice that continue for at least 15 days have visible lesions at the start of dosing. At necropsy, the number of mice with lesions as well as lesions per mouse are determined.

  The compound of Example 24 was evaluated in this manner three times at a dose of 10 mg / kg. In each test method, mice that received the compound of Example 24 had fewer lesions at necropsy than mice that received the vehicle. For example, in Study 1, each of the 4 mice in the vehicle group had at least one lesion, and there were a total of 10 lesions in this group. In contrast, only two of the six mice treated in Example 24 had lesions, with only one lesion per animal. Thus, since all mice had lesions at the start of treatment, the compound of Example 24 regressed lesions in 4 out of 6 mice.

  Based on the results obtained with standard pharmacological test methods, the compounds of the invention are mediated at least in part by an estrogen deficiency or excess, or can be treated or inhibited by the use of estrogen agents , Estrogen receptor modulators useful for the treatment or inhibition of disorders or conditions. In particular, the compounds of the present invention are useful for the treatment of pre-menopausal, post-menopausal or post-menopausal patients in which the level of endogenous estrogen produced is generally greatly reduced. Menopause is generally defined as the last natural menstrual period and is characterized by a cessation of ovarian function that causes a substantial decrease in estrogen circulating in the bloodstream. As used herein, menopause also includes a reduced state of estrogen production that can be caused surgically, chemically, or by a condition that induces premature reduction or cessation of ovarian function.

  In addition, the compounds of the present invention have estrogen deficiency including hot flashes, vaginal or vulvar atrophy, atrophic vaginitis, vaginal dryness, pruritus, sexual pain, dysuria, frequent urination, urinary incontinence, urinary tract infection Useful for the inhibition or treatment of other effects. Other reproductive organ applications include the treatment or inhibition of dysfunctional malformation of the uterus. The compounds are also useful in the treatment or inhibition of endometriosis.

  The compounds of the present invention are also active in the brain and thus inhibit or treat Alzheimer's disease, cognitive decline, decreased libido, senile dementia, neurodegenerative disorders, depression, anxiety, insomnia, schizophrenia and infertility Useful for. The compounds of the present invention are also useful for glomerulosclerosis, prostate hypertrophy, uterine leiomyoma, breast cancer, scleroderma, fibromatosis, endometrial cancer, polycystic ovary syndrome, endometrial polyp, benign disease of the breast It is useful in the treatment or inhibition of benign or malignant abnormal tissue growth, including adenomyosis, ovarian cancer, melanoma, prostate cancer, colon cancer, CNS cancer such as glioma or astroblastoma.

  The compounds of the present invention are cardioprotectants and antioxidants, to reduce cholesterol, triglycerides, Lp (a) and LDL levels; hypercholesterolemia, hyperlipidemia, cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis It is useful for inhibiting vascular wall damage from cellular events that induce immune-mediated vascular damage to inhibit or treat arteriosclerosis, peripheral vascular disease, restenosis and vasospasm.

  In addition, the compound of the present invention is used for inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, atypical colitis), arthritis (rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthritis, osteoarthritis), pleurisy, ischemia / reperfusion Inflammation, including injury (eg, seizures, graft rejection, myocardial infarction, etc.), asthma, giant cell arteritis, prostatitis, uveitis, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus and sepsis It is useful for the treatment of disorders that are not associated with autoimmune diseases.

The compounds of the present invention are also useful for the treatment or inhibition of ocular disorders including cataract, uveitis and macular degeneration, and for the treatment of skin conditions such as aging, hair loss and wounds.
The compounds of the present invention are also useful for the treatment or inhibition of metabolic diseases such as type II diabetes, lipid metabolism, appetite (eg anorexia nervosa and morbidity).

The compounds of the present invention are also useful for the treatment or prevention of bleeding disorders such as hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, dysfunctional uterine bleeding, and hemorrhagic shock.
The compounds of the invention are useful in conditions where amenorrhea is advantageous, such as leukemia, endomectomy, chronic renal failure or liver disease or coagulation disease or disorder.
The compounds of the present invention may be useful as contraceptives, particularly when combined with progestins.

  When administered to treat or inhibit a particular condition or disorder, the effective dosage depends on the particular compound utilized, the method of administration, the symptoms and severity being treated, and various physical factors related to the individual being treated. It is understood that it can change. Effective administration of the compounds of the invention is administered by oral administration from about 0.1 mg / day to about 1,000 mg / day. Preferably, the dosage will be from about 10 mg / day to about 600 mg / day, more preferably from about 50 mg / day to about 600 mg / day, in a single dose or in two or more doses. The planned daily dose will vary with the route of administration.

  Such administration includes oral, graft, parenteral (including intravenous, intraperitoneal and subcutaneous injection), rectal, intranasal, topical, ocular (via eye drops), vaginal and transdermal administration. The active compounds of the invention can be administered in any manner useful for directing the recipient's bloodstream.

  Oral formulations containing the active compounds of the present invention include conventionally used oral dosage forms such as tablets, capsules, buccals, troches, lozenges and oral solutions, suspensions or solutions. Capsules include active compound and pharmaceutically acceptable starch (eg corn starch, potato or tapioca starch), sugar, artificial sweeteners, powdered cellulose, eg crystalline and microcrystalline cellulose, flour, gelatin, gum etc. It may contain a mixture with inert fillers and / or diluents. Useful tablet formulations can be made by conventional pressing, wet granulation or dry granulation methods, including but not limited to magnesium stearate, stearic acid, talc, sodium lauryl sulfate, microcrystals Cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose calcium, polyvinylpyrrolidone, gelatin, alginic acid, gum arabic, xanthan gum, sodium citrate, complex silicate, calcium carbonate, glycine, dextrin, sucrose, sorbitol, dicalcium phosphate, calcium sulfate, lactose, kaolin Pharmaceutically acceptable diluents, binders, lubricants, disintegrants, surface modifiers (including surface active agents), suspending agents or including mannitol, sodium chloride, talc, dry starch and powdered sugar Stabilizers can be utilized. Preferred surface modifiers are nonionic and anionic surface modifiers. Representative examples of surface modifiers include, but are not limited to, poloxamer 188, benzalkonium chloride, calcium stearate, cetostearyl alcohol, cetomacrogol emulsifying wax, sorbitan ester, colloidal silicon dioxide, Mention may be made of phosphate, sodium dodecyl sulfate, magnesium aluminum silicate and triethanolamine. Oral formulations of the invention can alter the absorption of the active compounds utilizing standard delayed or sustained release formulations. Oral formulations also constitute administration with the active ingredient in water or fruit juice, containing appropriate solubilizers or emulsifiers as needed.

  In some cases, it may be desirable to administer the compound directly to the airways in the form of an aerosol.

  In addition, the compound of the present invention can be administered parenterally or intraperitoneally. Solutions or suspensions of the active compounds as a free base or pharmaceutically acceptable ene can suitably be prepared in water mixed with a surfactant such as hydroxy-propylcellulose. Dispersions can also be prepared in glycerol in oil, liquid polyethylene glycols and mixtures thereof. Under ordinary conditions of storage and use, these preparations contain a preservative to inhibit the growth of microorganisms.

  Pharmaceutical forms suitable for use by injection include sterile aqueous solutions or dispersions and sterile powders for the extemporaneous preparation of sterile injectable solutions or dispersion. In all cases, the formulation must be sterile and must be fluid to the extent that easy syringability exists. It must be sterile under the conditions of manufacture and storage and must be preserved against the contaminating action of microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. The carrier can be a solvent or dispersion medium containing, for example, water, ethanol, polyol (eg, glycerol, propylene glycol and liquid polyethylene glycol), suitable mixtures thereof, and vegetable oils.

  For the purposes of this disclosure, transdermal administration is understood to include all administration that passes through the surface of the body and the inner surface of body conduits, including epithelial and mucosal tissue. Such administration can be accomplished using the parent compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in lotions, creams, foams, patches, suspensions, solutions and suppositories (rectal and vaginal).

  Transdermal administration includes transdermal patches containing an active compound and a carrier that is inert to the active compound, non-toxic to the skin, and delivers a systemically absorbed drug through the skin into the bloodstream Can be used. The carrier can be used in many forms such as creams and ointments, pastes, gels and occlusive devices. Creams and ointments can be viscous liquids or semisolid emulsions, either oil-in-water or water-in-oil. Also suitable are pastes made of absorbent powder dispersed in petroleum or hydrophilic petroleum containing active ingredients. Various occlusive devices can be used to release the active ingredient into the bloodstream, for example containing a semi-permeable membrane or active ingredient covering a reservoir containing the active ingredient with or without a carrier Matrix. Other occlusive devices are known in the literature.

  Suppository formulations can be made from traditional materials, including cocoa butter and glycerin, with or without the addition of waxes that change the melting point of the suppository, as appropriate. Water-soluble suppository bases such as polyethylene glycols of various molecular weights can be used.

  The production methods of representative examples of the present invention are described below.

Example 1
2- (5-Hydroxy-1,3-benzoxazol-2-yl) benzene-1,4-diol Step a) N- (2,5-Dimethoxyphenyl) -2,5-dimethoxybenzamide 2,5-dimethoxy A mixture of benzoic acid (5.0 g, 27.5 mmol) and thionyl chloride (15 mL) was refluxed for 1 hour. Volatiles were removed under reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in THF (20 mL) and added to a cold (0 ° C.) solution of 2,5-dimethoxyaniline (4.6 g, 30.2 mmol), triethylamine (5 mL, 35.9 mmol) and THF (40 mL). . The mixture was stirred for 30 minutes, poured into water, acidified with HCl (2N) and extracted with EtOAc. The organic extract was dried over MgSO ₄ . Evaporation and purification by flash chromatography (hexane / EtOAc 2/1) gave a white solid (8.1 g, 93% yield, mp 121-23 ° C.); MS m / e 318 (M + H) ⁺ .
Analysis as C ₁₇ H ₁₉ NO ₅ Calculated: C, 64.34; H, 6.03; N, 4.41
Found: C, 64.29; H, 5.95; N, 4.44

Step b) 2- (5-hydroxy-1,3-benzoxazol-2-yl) benzene-1,4-diol N- (2,5-dimethoxyphenyl) -2,5-dimethoxybenzamide (1.0 g, 3.1 mmol) and pyridine hydrochloride (2.0 g, 17.3 mmol) were stirred at 200 ° C. for 1 hour. The mixture was cooled to room temperature and HCl (10 mL, 2N) was added. The mixture was then extracted with EtOAc and the organic extract was dried over MgSO ₄ . Evaporation and purification by flash chromatography (hexane / EtOAc 2/1) gave a white solid (0.8 g, 76% yield, mp 309-311 ° C.); MS m / e 242 (M− H) ⁺ .
Analyzed as C ₁₃ H ₉ NO ₄ Calculated: C, 64.20; H, 3.73; N, 5.76
Found: C, 63.98; H, 3.71; N, 5.62

Example 2
3- (5-hydroxy-1,3-benzoxazol-2-yl) benzene-1,2-diol from 2,5-dimethoxyaniline and 2,3-dimethoxybenzoic acid substantially as described in Example 1. The title compound was prepared in the same manner as The product was obtained as a tan solid, mp 239-241 ° C .; MS m / e 244 (M + H) ⁺ .
Analyzed as C ₁₃ H ₉ NO ₄ Calculated: C, 64.20; H, 3.73; N, 5.76
Found: C, 63.86; H, 3.90; N, 5.74

Example 3
2- (3-Fluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol 2,5-dimethoxyaniline and 3-fluoro-4-methoxybenzoic acid substantially as described in Example 1. The title compound was prepared in the same manner as that obtained as a white solid, mp 262-268 ° C .; MS m / e 244 (M−H) ⁺ .
Analyzed as C ₁₃ H ₈ FNO ₃ Calculated: C, 63.68; H, 3.29; N, 5.71
Found: C, 64.01; H, 3.25; N, 5.63

Example 4
2- (3-Chloro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol 2,5-dimethoxyaniline and 3-chloro-4-methoxybenzoic acid, substantially as described in Example 1. The title compound was prepared in the same manner as that obtained as a white solid, mp 254-256 ° C .; MS m / e 260 (M−H) ⁺ .
Analyzed as C ₁₃ H ₈ ClNO ₃ Calculated: C, 59.67; H, 3.08; N, 5.35
Found: C, 59.59; H, 3.02; N, 5.25

Example 5
2- (2-Chloro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol 2,5-dimethoxyaniline and 2-chloro-4-methoxybenzoic acid substantially as described in Example 1. The title compound was prepared in the same manner as that obtained as a white solid, mp 253-255 ° C .; MS m / e 262 (M + H) ⁺ .
Analyzed as C ₁₃ H ₈ ClNO ₃ Calculated: C, 59.67; H, 3.08; N, 5.35
Found: C, 59.79; H, 2.87; N, 5.36

Example 6
2- (3-Fluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-6-ol 2,4-dimethoxyaniline and 3-fluoro-4-methoxybenzoic acid, substantially as described in Example 1. The title compound was prepared in the same manner as that obtained as a white solid, mp 269-271 ° C .; MS m / e 244 (M−H) ⁺ .
Analyzed as C ₁₇ H ₁₇ NO ₃ Calculated: C, 63.68; H, 3.29; N, 5.71
Found: C, 63.53; H, 3.71; N, 5.38

Example 7
From 2- (3-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-6-ol 2,4-dimethoxyaniline and 3-tert-butyl-4-methoxybenzoic acid, substantially The title compound was prepared in the same manner as described in 1 and obtained as a white solid, mp 220-222 ° C .; MS m / e 284 (M + H) ⁺ .
Analysis as C ₁₇ H ₁₇ NO ₃ Calculated: C, 72.07; H, 6.05; N, 4.94
Found: C, 72.03; H, 6.43; N, 4.72.

Example 8
2- (6-Hydroxy-1,3-benzoxazol-2-yl) benzene-1,4-diol from 2,4-dimethoxyaniline and 2,5-dimethoxybenzoic acid substantially as described in Example 1. The title compound was prepared in the same manner as that obtained as a tan solid, mp 278-280 ° C .; MS m / e 244 (M + H) ⁺ .
Analyzed as C ₁₃ H ₉ NO ₄ Calculated: C, 64.20; H, 3.73; N, 5.76
Found: C, 64.09; H, 3.14; N, 5.65

Example 9
3- (6-Hydroxy-1,3-benzoxazol-2-yl) benzene-1,2-diol from 2,4-dimethoxyaniline and 2,3-dimethoxybenzoic acid substantially as described in Example 1. The title compound was prepared in the same manner as that obtained as a tan solid, mp 256-258 ° C .; MS m / e 244 (M + H) ⁺ .
Analyzed as C ₁₃ H ₉ NO ₄ Calculated: C, 64.20; H, 3.73; N, 5.76
Found: C, 63.91; H, 3.98; N, 5.72

Example 10
4- (6-Hydroxy-1,3-benzoxazol-2-yl) benzene-1,2-diol from 2,4-dimethoxyaniline and 3,4-dimethoxybenzoic acid substantially as described in Example 1. The title compound was prepared in the same manner as that obtained as a white solid, mp 282-284 ° C .; MS m / e 242 (M−H) ⁺ .
Analyzed as C ₁₃ H ₉ NO ₄ Calculated: C, 64.20; H, 3.73; N, 5.76
Found: C, 63.57; H, 3.68; N, 5.63

Example 11
2- (3-Chloro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-6-ol 2,4-dimethoxyaniline and 3-chloro-4-methoxybenzoic acid, substantially as described in Example 1. The title compound was prepared in the same manner as that obtained as an off-white solid, mp 254-256 ° C .; MS m / e 262 (M + H) ⁺ .
Analyzed as C ₁₃ H ₉ NO ₄ Calculated: C, 64.20; H, 3.73; N, 5.76
Found: C, 63.57; H, 3.68; N, 5.63

Example 12
2- (4-Hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol The title compound is obtained from 2,5-dimethoxyaniline and 4-methoxybenzoyl chloride in substantially the same manner as described in Example 1. Prepared and obtained as a pale yellow solid, mp 264-267 ° C .; MS m / e 228 (M + H) ⁺ .
Analyzed as C ₁₃ H ₉ NO ₃ Calculated: C, 68.72; H, 3.99; N, 6.16
Found: C, 67.87; H, 4.05; N, 6.23

Example 13
4- (5-hydroxy-1,3-benzoxazol-2-yl) benzene-1,3-diol from 2,5-dimethoxyaniline and 2,4-dimethoxybenzoic acid substantially as described in Example 1. The title compound was prepared in the same manner as that obtained as a white solid, mp> 300 ° C .; MS m / e 242 (M−H) ⁺ .
Analyzed as C ₁₃ H ₉ NO ₄ Calculated: C, 64.20; H, 3.73; N, 5.76
Found: C, 63.92; H, 3.74; N, 5.56

Example 14
2- (4-Hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-6-ol The title compound is obtained from 2,4-dimethoxyaniline and 4-methoxybenzoyl chloride in substantially the same manner as described in Example 1. Prepared and obtained as a white solid, mp> 300 ° C .; MS m / e 226 (M−H) ⁺ .
Analyzed as C ₁₃ H ₉ NO ₃ Calculated: C, 68.72; H, 3.99; N, 6.16
Found: C, 68.09; H, 4.01; N, 6.05

Example 15
4- (6-Hydroxy-1,3-benzoxazol-2-yl) benzene-1,3-diol from 2,4-dimethoxyaniline and 2,4-dimethoxybenzoic acid substantially as described in Example 1. The title compound was prepared in the same manner as that obtained as a white solid, mp 293-296 ° C .; MS m / e 242 (M−H) ⁺ .
Analyzed as C ₁₃ H ₉ NO ₄ Calculated: C, 64.20; H, 3.73; N, 5.76
Found: C, 64.43; H, 3.77; N, 5.74

Example 16
6-Chloro-2- (3-fluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol Step a) N- (4-Chloro-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl) -3-fluoro-4 -Methoxybenzamide The title compound is prepared from 4-chloro-2,5-dimethoxyaniline and 3-fluoro-4-methoxybenzoic acid in substantially the same manner as described in Example 1, step a to give a white solid Mp 197-199 ° C .; MS m / e 340 (M + H) ⁺ .
Analyzed as C ₁₆ H ₁₅ ClFNO ₄ Calculated: C, 56.56; H, 4.45; N, 4.12.
Found: C, 56.33; H, 4.35; N, 4.05

Step b) N- (4-Chloro-2,5-dihydroxyphenyl) -3-fluoro-4-hydroxybenzamide Boron trifluoride dimethylsulfide complex (70 mL) was converted to N- (4-Chloro-2,5- dimethoxyphenyl) -3-fluoro-4-methoxybenzamide (1.75 g, was added to a mixture of 5.15 mmol) and _CH 2 _Cl 2 (35mL). After stirring for 20 hours, the solvent and excess reagent were evaporated under a stream of nitrogen in the hood. The residue was dissolved in ice and HCl (1N) and extracted with EtOAc. The organic layer was washed with HCl (1N) and dried over MgSO ₄ . Evaporated and purified by flash chromatography (CH ₂ Cl ₂ / hexane / EtOAc 5/3/2, 10 mL AcOH per liter of elution solvent) to give a white solid (1.4 g, 91% yield, Mp 254-256 [deg.] C); MS m / e 296 (M-H) ^<+> .
Analysis as C ₁₃ H ₉ ClFNO ₄ Calculated: C, 52.46; H, 3.05; N, 4.71
Found: C, 51.98; H, 2.98; N, 4.56

Step c) 6-chloro-2- (3-fluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol N- (4-chloro-2,5-dihydroxyphenyl) -3-fluoro-4 The title compound was prepared from hydroxybenzamide and pyridine hydrochloride in substantially the same manner as described in Example 1, step b, and obtained as a white solid, mp 258-260 ° C .; MS m / e 278 (M -H) ⁺ .
Analyzed as C ₁₃ H ₁₇ ClFNO ₃ Calculated: C, 55.83; H, 2.52; N, 5.01
Found: C, 55.35; H, 2.59; N, 4.91

Example 17
6-bromo-2- (3-fluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol From 4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyaniline and 3-fluoro-4-methoxybenzoic acid, Specifically, the title compound was prepared in the same manner as described in Example 16 to give a white solid; mp 224-226 ° C .; MS m / e 322 (M−H) ⁺ .
Analyzed as C ₁₃ H ₁₇ BrFNO ₃ Calculated: C, 48.18; H, 2.18; N, 4.32.
Found: C, 48.69; H, 2.36; N, 4.59

Example 18
6-Chloro-2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol From 4-chloro-2,5-dimethoxyaniline and 4-methoxybenzoyl chloride, substantially as described in Example 16. The title compound was prepared in the same manner as that obtained as an off-white solid, mp 260-262 ° C .; MS m / e 260 (M−H) ⁺ .
Analyzed as C ₁₃ H ₈ ClNO ₃ Calculated: C, 59.67; H, 3.08; N, 5.35
Found: C, 59.09; H, 3.06; N, 5.11

Example 19
5-Chloro-2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-6-ol From 5-chloro-2,4-dimethoxyaniline and 4-methoxybenzoyl chloride, substantially as described in Example 16. The title compound was prepared in the same manner as that obtained as an off-white solid, mp 254-256 ° C .; MS m / e 262 (M + H) ⁺ .
Analyzed as C ₁₃ H ₈ ClNO ₃ Calculated: C, 59.67; H, 3.08; N, 5.35
Found: C, 59.40; H, 2.97; N, 5.22.

Example 20
7-Bromo-2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol Step a) Bromine (16.0 g, 2-bromo-4-methoxy-6-nitrophenol in acetic acid (20 mL) 100 mmol) was added into a mixture of 4-methoxy-2-nitrophenol (16.9 g, 100 mmol), sodium acetate (16.4 g, 200 mmol) and acetic acid (100 mL). The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 30 minutes and then at 70 ° C. for 2 hours and poured into water (1.5 l) containing concentrated sulfuric acid (10 mL). The precipitated solid was filtered and crystallized from (chloroform / hexane) to give a brown solid, mp 116-118 ° C .; MS m / e 246 (M−H) ⁺ .
Analyzed as C ₇ H ₆ BrNO ₄ Calculated: C, 33.90; H, 2.44; N, 5.65
Found: C, 34.64; H, 2.16; N, 5.43

Step b) 2-Amino-6-bromo-4-methoxyphenol Raney / Ni (2.5 g) was added to 2-bromo-4-methoxy-6-nitrophenol (8.8 g, 35. 5) in EtOAc (100 mL). 5 mmol) of solution. The mixture was shaken on a Parr apparatus at 25 psi under a hydrogen atmosphere for 2.5 hours. The reaction mixture was filtered through celite and evaporated under reduced pressure to give a gray solid (7.4 g, 96% yield; 95-97 ° C.); MS m / e 218 (M + H) ⁺ .
Analyzed as C ₇ H ₈ BrNO ₂ Calculated: C, 38.56; H, 3.70; N, 6.42
Found: C, 38.32; H, 3.77; N, 6.24

Step c) 2-Bromo-4-methoxy-6-[(4-methoxybenzoyl) amino] phenyl-4-methoxybenzoate Anhydrous pyridine (37.0 mL, 468.5 mmol) was added to 2-amino-6-bromo- To a cold (0 ° C.) mixture (mechanically stirred) of 4-methoxyphenol (20.0 g, 91.7 mmol), 4-methoxybenzoyl chloride (38.9 g, 229.0 mmol) and CH ₂ Cl ₂ (250 mL). It was dripped. A precipitate formed during the addition of pyridine. The mixture was stirred for 30 minutes and then ethyl ether (250 mL) was added. The precipitated solid was filtered and washed with ethyl ether. The solid was dissolved in water and stirred for 20 minutes. The solid was then filtered and dried to give an off-white solid (42.5 g, 95% yield, mp 73-75 ° C.); MS m / e 484 (M−H) ⁺ .
C ₂₃ H ₂₀ BrNO ₆ as Calcd: C, 56.80; H, 4.15 ; N, 2.88
Found: C, 56.50; H, 3.78; N, 2.83

Step d) 7-Bromo-5-methoxy-2- (4-methoxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazole Route a)
2-Bromo-4-methoxy-6-[(4-methoxybenzoyl) amino] phenyl 4-methoxybenzoate (42.0 g, 86.4 mmol), p-toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate (32.8 g, 172. 8 mmol) and anhydrous p-xylene (800 mL) were refluxed for 1 hour with continuous moisture removal (Dean-Stark Trap). The initial suspension turned into a brown solution at reflux temperature. The mixture was cooled at room temperature and washed with NaOH (2N). The organic layer was dried over MgSO _4. Evaporation and recrystallization from acetone / ethyl acetate gave an off-white solid (23.5 g, 82% yield, mp 139-141 ° C.); MS m / e 334 (M + H) ⁺ .
Analysis as C ₁₅ H ₁₂ BrNO ₃ Calculated: C, 53.91; H, 3.62; N, 4.19
Found: C, 53.83; H, 3.37; N, 4.01

Route b)
of 2-amino-6-bromo-methoxyphenol (100 mg, 0.46 mmol), 4-methoxy-benzoic acid (77 mg, 0.5 mmol) and boronic acid (31 mg, 0.5 mmol) in p-xylene (9 mL). The mixture was refluxed for 24 hours using a Dean-Stark water separator. The mixture was cooled at room temperature and concentrated under reduced pressure. The remaining product was purified by flash chromatography (30% EtOAc / petroleum ether) to give as a pale pink solid (99 mg, 65% yield, mp 136-138 ° C.); MS m / e 334 ( M + H) ⁺ .
Analysis as C ₁₅ H ₁₂ BrNO ₃ Calculated: C, 53.91; H, 3.62; N, 4.19
Found: C, 53.78; H, 3.55; N, 4.01

Step e) 7-Bromo-2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol Route a)
Boron tribromide (1M, 89.9 mL, 89.8 mmol) was added to 7-bromo-5-methoxy-2- (4-methoxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazole (10.0 g, 29.94 mmol) and It was added dropwise to a cold (−70 ° C.) suspension of CH ₂ Cl ₂ (50 mL). The mixture was warmed to room temperature. During the warming period, the suspension turned into a dark solution. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 2 days and then slowly poured into cold (0 ° C.) ethyl ether (1000 mL). Methyl alcohol (200 mL) was slowly added to the mixture over 20 minutes. The mixture was then dissolved in water (1.5 l). The organic layer was washed 3 times with water and dried over MgSO ₄ . Evaporation and recrystallization from acetone / ethyl ether / hexane gave an off-white solid (8.4 g, 92% yield, mp 298-299 ° C.); MS m / e 306 (M + H) ⁺ .
Analyzed as C ₁₃ H ₈ BrNO ₃ Calcd: C, 51.01; H, 2.63; N, 4.58
Found: C, 50.96; H, 2.30; N, 4.42

Route b)
Boron tribromide (0.25 mL, 2.7 mmol) was added to 7-bromo-5-methoxy-2- (4-methoxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazole (130 mg, 0.39 mmol) and dichloromethane (1. To a cold (−78 ° C.) mixture of 5 mL). The reaction mixture was gradually brought to room temperature and stirred for 1 hour. The mixture was poured into ice and extracted with EtOAc. The organic extract was washed with brine and dried over MgSO ₄ . Evaporation and purification by flash chromatography (30% to 40% EtOAc / petroleum ether) gave the product as a pale pink solid (102 mg, 86% yield), mp 295-298 ° C .; MS m / e304 (M−H) ⁺ ;
Analyzed as C ₁₃ H ₈ BrNO ₃ Calcd: C, 51.01; H, 2.63; N, 4.58
Found: C, 51.06; H, 2.77; N, 4.36

Example 21
7-Bromo-2- (3-fluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol Step a) 2-Bromo-6-[(3-fluoro-4-methoxybenzoyl) amino]- 4-Methoxyphenyl 3-fluoro-4-methoxybenzoate A mixture of 3-fluoro-4-methoxybenzoic acid (39.0 g, 229 mmol), thionyl chloride (100 mL) and N, N-dimethylformamide (0.5 mL) was added to 1 Reflux for hours. Volatiles were removed under reduced pressure. The solid was dissolved in benzene and volatiles were removed under reduced pressure (twice). The residue was dissolved in CH ₂ Cl ₂ (100 mL) and cold (0 ° C.) of 2-amino-6-bromo-4-methoxyphenol (20.0 g, 91.7 mmol) and CH ₂ Cl ₂ (150 mL). It was poured into the solution (mechanically stirred). Anhydrous pyridine (37.0 mL, 468.5 mmol) was added dropwise into the mixture. A precipitate formed during the addition of pyridine. The mixture was stirred for 30 minutes and then ethyl ether (250 mL) was added. The precipitated solid was filtered and washed with ethyl ether. The solid was dissolved in water and stirred for 20 minutes. The solid was then filtered and dried to give an off-white solid (46.5 g, 97% yield, mp 184-186 ° C.); MS m / e 520 (M−H) ⁺ .
Analysis as C ₂₃ H ₁₈ BrF ₂ NO ₆ Calculated: C, 52.89; H, 3.47; N, 2.68
Found: C, 52.79; H, 3.23; N, 2.63

Step b) 7-bromo-2- (3-fluoro-4-methoxyphenyl) -5-methoxy-1,3-benzoxazole 2-bromo-6-[(3-fluoro-4-methoxybenzoyl) amino]- Suspension of 4-methoxyphenyl 3-fluoro-4-methoxybenzoate (46.0 g, 88.1 mmol), p-toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate (33.5 g, 177.2 mmol) and anhydrous p-xylene (1 l) The suspension was refluxed for 3 hours with continuous water removal (Dean Stark Trap). The initial suspension turned into a brown solution at reflux temperature. The solid was filtered and washed with ethyl ether. The solid was suspended in ethyl ether (200 mL), stirred for 10 minutes, filtered and dried to give a tan solid (25.1 g, mp 175-177 ° C.). The ethyl ether layer was concentrated to 20 mL to give 2.5 g of additional product (90% overall yield). MS m / e 352 (M + H) ^<+> .
Analyzed as C ₁₅ H ₁₁ BrFNO ₃ Calculated: C, 51.16; H, 3.15; N, 3.98
Found: C, 51.10; H, 2.92; N, 3.89

Step c) 7-Bromo-2- (3-fluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol The title compound in a manner substantially analogous to that described in Example 20, Step e. Was obtained as a white solid, mp 265-267 ° C .; MS m / e 332 (M−H) ⁺ .
Analyzed as C ₁₃ H ₇ BrFNO ₃ Calculated: C, 48.18; H, 2.18; N, 4.32.
Found: C, 48.19; H, 2.29; N, 4.19

Example 22
7-bromo-2- (2-fluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol Step a) 2- fluoro-4-methoxybenzoic acid Ag ₂ O (13.5g, 58.4mmol ), NaOH (19.5 g, 487 mmol) and water (200 mL) to a warm (55 ° C.) mixture was added 2-fluoro-4-methoxybenzaldehyde (15 g, 97.4 mmol). The mixture was stirred for 1 hour, filtered, and the precipitated solid was washed with hot water (10 mL). The filtrate was slowly added into cold (0 ° C.) HCl (5N) with vigorous stirring. The precipitated solid was filtered, washed with water and dried to give a white solid (13.6 g, 82% yield, mp 194-196 ° C.); MS m / e 169 (M−H) ⁺ .
Analysis as C ₈ H ₇ FO ₃ Calculated: C, 56.48; H, 4.15
Found: C, 56.12; H, 4.12.

Step b) 7-Bromo-2- (2-fluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol From 2-fluoro-4-methoxybenzoic acid, substantially the same as described in Example 21 The title compound was prepared in an analogous manner and obtained as a white solid, mp 248-250 ° C .; MS m / e 324 (M + H) ⁺ .
Analyzed as C ₁₃ H ₇ BrFNO ₃ Calculated: C, 48.18; H, 2.18; N, 4.32.
Found: C, 47.89; H, 1.95; N, 4.18

Example 23
7-Bromo-2- (2,3-difluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol Step a) Methyl 2,3-difluoro-4-methoxybenzoate iodomethane (10.7 mL, 172.5 mmol) to a mixture of 2,3-difluoro-4-hydroxybenzoic acid (10.0 g, 57.5 mmol), lithium carbonate (12.7 g, 172.5 mmol) and N, N-dimethylformamide (100 mL) Added inside. The mixture was stirred at 40 ° C. for 12 hours, then poured into water and extracted with EtOAc. The organic extract was dried over MgSO ₄ . Evaporated and purified by flash chromatography (hexane / EtOAc 5/1) to give a white solid (10.2 g, 88% yield, mp 66-68 ° C.); MS m / e 203 (M + H) ⁺ .
Analysis as C ₉ H ₈ F ₂ O ₃ Calculated: C, 53.47; H, 3.99
Found: C, 53.15; H, 3.83

Step b) 2,3-difluoro-4-methoxybenzoic acid sodium hydroxide (2N, 50 mL), methyl 2,3-difluoro-4-methoxybenzoate (10.0 g, 49.5 mmol), THF (100 mL) And in a mixture of MeOH (100 mL). The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 6 hours and acidified with HCl (2N). The precipitated solid was filtered, washed with water and dried to give a white solid (8.9 g, 96% yield, mp 194-196 ° C.); MS m / e 187 (M−H) ⁺ .
Analysis as C ₈ H ₆ F ₂ O ₃ Calculated: C, 51.08; H, 3.21
Found: C, 50.83; H, 2.92

Step c) from 7-bromo-2- (2,3-difluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol 2,3-difluoro-4-methoxybenzoic acid as described in Example 21 The title compound was prepared in a manner substantially similar to that of 1 to give a white solid, mp 258-260 ° C .; MS m / e 342 (M + H) ⁺ .
Analysis as C ₁₃ H ₆ BrF ₂ NO ₃ Calculated: C, 45.64; H, 1.77; N, 4.09
Found: C, 45.33; H, 1.62; N, 4.02

Example 24
2- (3-Fluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -7-vinyl-1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol route a)
Step a) 7-Bromo-5-{[tert-butyl (dimethyl) silyl] oxy} -2- (4-{[tert-butyl (dimethyl) silyl] oxy} -3-fluorophenyl) -1,3- Benzoxazole tert-butyl (chloro) dimethylsilane (23.2 g, 154 mmol) was converted to 7-bromo-2- (3-fluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol (16.6 g). 51.4 mmol), imidazole (17.5 g, 257 mmol), N, N-dimethylpyridin-4-amine (1.0 g, 8.1 mmol) and DMF (300 mL) was added dropwise. The mixture was stirred for 3 hours, poured into water and extracted with ethyl ether. The organic extract was dried over MgSO ₄ . Evaporation and purification by flash chromatography (hexane / EtOAc 50/1) gave a white solid (27.5 g, 97% yield, mp 98-99 ° C.); MS m / e 552 (M + H) ⁺ .
C ₂₅ H ₃₅ BrFNO ₃ Si ₂ as Calcd: C, 54.34; H, 6.38 ; N, 2.53
Found: C, 54.06; H, 6.52; N, 2.24

Step b) 5-{[tert-butyl (dimethyl) silyl] oxy} -2- (4-{[tert-butyl (dimethyl) silyl] oxy} -3-fluorophenyl) -7-vinyl-1,3- Benzoxazole dichlorobis (tri-o-tolylphosphine) palladium (II) (0.63 g, 0.79 mmol) was added to 7-bromo-5-{[tert-butyl (dimethyl) silyl] oxy} -2- (4- {[Tert-butyl (dimethyl) silyl] oxy} -3-fluorophenyl) -1,3-benzoxazole (14.7 g, 26.6 mmol), tributyl (vinyl) tin (10.5 g, 33.25 mmol) and Added into a mixture of p-xylene (85 mL). The reaction mixture was stirred at 90 ° C. for 24 hours, cooled to room temperature, diluted with ethyl ether (100 mL) and treated with activated carbon. The mixture was filtered through MgSO ₄ and concentrated. Purification by flash chromatography (hexane / EtOAc 50/1) gave a white solid (11.8 g, 89% yield, mp 93-95 ° C.); MS m / e 500 (M + H) ⁺ .
Analyzed as C ₂₇ H ₃₈ FNO ₃ Si ₂ Calculated: C, 64.89; H, 7.66; N, 2.80
Found: C, 64.59; H, 7.70; N, 2.73

Step c) 2- (3-Fluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -7-vinyl-1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol Hydrofluoric acid (48 wt% in water, 1 mL) is added to 5-{[tert -Butyl (dimethyl) silyl] oxy} -2- (4-{[tert-butyl (dimethyl) silyl] oxy} -3-fluorophenyl) -7-vinyl-1,3-benzoxazole (1.5 g, 3 0.0 mmol), THF (6 mL) and acetonitrile (3 mL). The reaction mixture was stirred at 65 ° C. for 8 hours and then added to water. The precipitated solid was filtered and dried. The product was crystallized from acetone / ethyl ether to give a white solid (0.72 g, 81% yield, mp 249-251 ° C.); MS m / e 272 (M + H) ⁺ .
C ₁₅ H ₁₀ FNO ₃ as Calcd: C, 66.42; H, 3.72 ; N, 5.16
Found: C, 66.31; H, 3.85; N, 4.96

Route b)
2- (3-Fluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -7-vinyl-1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol dichlorobis (tri-o-tolylphosphine) palladium (II) (0.87 g, 1.1 mmol). 7-bromo-2- (3-fluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol (7.16 g, 22.1 mmol), tributyl (vinyl) tin (10.5 g, 33.33). 25 mmol) and ethylene glycol diethyl ether (65 mL). The reaction mixture was stirred at 115 ° C. for 48 hours, cooled to room temperature and treated with activated carbon. The mixture was filtered through MgSO ₄ and concentrated. Purification by flash chromatography on acidic silica gel (hexane / EtOAc / CH ₂ Cl ₂ 1/1/1) gave a white solid (4.35 g, 72% yield, mp 250-252 ° C.); MS m / e 272 (M + H) ⁺ .
C ₁₅ H ₁₀ FNO ₃ as Calcd: C, 66.42; H, 3.72 ; N, 5.16
Found: C, 66.03; H, 3.68; N, 5.09

Route c)
Step a) 4- [5- (Acetyloxy) -7-bromo-1,3-benzoxazol-2-yl] -2-fluorophenylacetone Acetic anhydride (1.0 mL, 9.95 mmol) was added to 7-bromo. 2- (3-Fluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol (1.24 g, 3.8 mmol), N, N-dimethylpyridin-4-amine (1.1 g, 9 .18 mmol) and 1,4-dioxane (13 mL) in cold (0 ° C.) solution. The reaction mixture was warmed to room temperature and stirred for 20 hours. Water (50 mL) was added and the reaction mixture was extracted with EtOAc and dried over MgSO ₄ . Evaporated and crystallized from EtOAc / hexanes to give an off-white solid (0.87 g, 56% yield); MS m / e 408 (M + H) ⁺ .
Analyzed as C ₁₇ H ₁₁ BrFNO ₅ Calculated: C, 50.02; H, 2.72; N, 3.43
Found: C, 49.58; H, 2.59; N, 3.37

Step b) 2- [4- (acetyloxy) -3-fluorophenyl] -7-vinyl-1,3-benzoxazol-5-yl acetate dichlorobis (tri-o-tolylphosphine) palladium (II) (46 mg, 0.06 mmol) to 4- [5- (acetyloxy) -7-bromo-1,3-benzoxazol-2-yl] -2-fluorophenyl acetate (0.8 g, 1.98 mmol), tributyl (vinyl ) Was added to a mixture of tin (0.9 g, 2.8 mmol) and p-xylene (9 mL). The reaction mixture was stirred at 130 ° C. for 5 hours, cooled to room temperature, diluted with ethyl ether (10 mL) and treated with activated carbon. The mixture was filtered through MgSO ₄ and concentrated. Purification by flash chromatography (hexane / EtOAc 5/1) gave a white solid (0.4 g, 56% yield, mp 154-156 ° C.); MS m / e 356 (M + H) ⁺ .
Analyzed as C ₁₉ H ₁₄ FNO ₅ Calculated: C, 64.23; H, 3.97; N, 3.94
Found: C, 63.94; H, 3.78; N, 3.76

Step c) 2- (3-Fluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -7-vinyl-1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol Potassium carbonate (55 mg) was treated with 2- [4- (acetyloxy) -3-fluoro. Phenyl] -7-vinyl-1,3-benzoxazol-5-yl acetate (0.14 g, 0.39 mmol) and 1,4-dioxane (3 mL) were added. The mixture was stirred at 90 ° C. for 1 h, poured into water, acidified with HCl (2N) and extracted with EtOAc. The organic extract was dried over MgSO ₄ . Evaporated and crystallized from EtOAc / hexanes to give a white solid (0.06 g, 46% yield, mp 250-252 ° C.); MS m / e 272 (M + H) ⁺ .
C ₁₅ H ₁₀ FNO ₃ as Calcd: C, 66.42; H, 3.72 ; N, 5.16
Found: C, 66.32; H, 3.47; N, 5.18

Example 25
2- (2-Fluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -7-vinyl-1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol 7-bromo-2- (2-fluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazole The title compound was prepared from -5-ol in a manner substantially similar to that described in Example 24, route a) and was obtained as a white solid, mp 274-275 ° C; MS m / e 272 (M + H ) ⁺ .
C ₁₅ H ₁₀ FNO ₃ as Calcd: C, 66.42; H, 3.72 ; N, 5.16
Found: C, 66.18; H, 3.47; N, 4.97

Example 26
2- (2,3-difluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -7-vinyl-1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol 7-bromo-2- (2,3-difluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -1, The title compound was prepared from 3-benzoxazol-5-ol in a manner substantially similar to that described in Example 24, route b) and obtained as an off-white solid, mp 276-278 ° C; MS m / E290 (M + H) ⁺ .
Analysis as C ₁₅ H ₉ F ₂ NO ₃ Calculated: C, 62.29; H, 3.14; N, 4.84
Found: C, 61.90; H, 3.05; N, 4.52

Example 27
2- (4-Hydroxyphenyl) -7-vinyl-1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol Examples from 7-bromo-2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol 24. The title compound was prepared in a manner substantially similar to that described for route b) and obtained as a white solid, mp 249-250 ° C .; MS m / e 254 (M + H) ⁺ .
Analyzed as C ₁₅ H ₁₁ NO ₃ Calculated: C, 70.99; H, 4.39; N, 5.52
Found: C, 70.75; H, 4.34; N, 5.46

Examples 28 and 29
4-Bromo-2- (3-fluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -7-vinyl-1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol (Example 28) and 4,6-dibromo-2- (3-fluoro- 4-Hydroxyphenyl) -7-vinyl-1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol (Example 29)
N-bromosuccinimide (0.49 g, 2.77 mmol) was added to 2- (3-fluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -7-vinyl-1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol (0.75 g, 2 .77 mmol) and acetonitrile (30 mL). The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 16 hours, poured into water and extracted with EtOAc. The organic extract was dried over MgSO ₄ . Evaporate and purify by flash chromatography (hexane / EtOAc / CH ₂ Cl ₂ 2/1/1) to give (a) as a white solid (0.45 g, mp 226-228 ° C.); MS m / e 349 (M + H) ⁺ ,
Analysis as C ₁₅ H ₉ BrNO ₃ Calcd: C, 51.45; H, 2.59; N, 4.00
Found: C, 51.08; H, 2.40; N, 3.90
And (b) as a white solid (0.18 g, mp 272-274 ° C.); MS m / e 428 (M + H) ^{+ was} obtained.
Analysis as C ₁₅ H ₈ Br ₂ NO ₃ Calculated: C, 41.99; H, 1.88; N, 3.26
Found: C, 42.25; H, 1.90; N, 3.14

Example 30
7- (1,2-Dibromoethyl) -2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol Step a) 5-Methoxy-2- (4-methoxyphenyl) -7-vinyl- 1,3-Benzoxazole From 7-bromo-5-methoxy-2- (4-methoxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazole, substantially as described in Example 24, route c), step b) The title compound was prepared in a similar manner and obtained as a white solid, MS m / e 282 (M + H) ⁺ .
Analyzed as C ₁₇ H ₁₅ NO ₃ Calculated: C, 72.58; H, 5.37; N, 4.98
Found: C, 72.33; H, 5.26; N, 4.72.

Step b) 7- (1,2-Dibromoethyl) -2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol Boron tribromide (0.85 mL, 8.95 mmol) It was added dropwise to a cold (−78 ° C.) mixture of methoxy-2- (4-methoxyphenyl) -7-vinyl-1,3-benzoxazole (0.31 g, 1.12 mmol) and CH ₂ Cl ₂ (4 mL). The mixture was warmed to room temperature. After stirring at room temperature for 18 hours, the mixture was slowly added to cold (0 ° C.) ethyl ether (20 mL). Then methyl alcohol (10 mL) was slowly added to the mixture. The mixture was washed with water (3 times) and dried over MgSO ₄ . Evaporation and purification by flash chromatography (hexane / EtOAc 3/1) gave a pale yellow solid (0.27 g, 59% yield, mp 175-177 ° C.); MS m / e 412 (M + H ) ⁺ .
Analyzed as C ₁₅ H ₁₁ Br ₂ NO ₃ Calculated: C, 43.62; H, 2.68; N, 3.39
Found: C, 43.85; H, 2.44; N, 3.33

Example 31
7- (1-Bromovinyl) -2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol 1,8-diazabicyclo [5.4.0] undec-7-ene (0.25 g, 1 .65 mmol) of 7- (1,2-dibromoethyl) -2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol (0.4 g, 0.96 mmol) and acetonitrile (4 mL). Added to the solution. The reaction mixture was stirred for 24 hours, poured into cold (0 ° C.) HCl (1N, 10 mL) and extracted with EtOAc. The organic extract was dried over MgSO ₄ . Evaporated and purified by flash chromatography (CH ₂ Cl ₂ / hexane / isopropyl alcohol 15/5/1) to give a white solid (185 mg, 58% yield, mp 228-230 ° C.); MS m / E332 (M + H) ⁺ .
Analysis Calculated _{C 15 H 10 BrNO 3: C} , 54.24; H, 3.03; N, 4.22
Found: C, 54.27; H, 2.94; N, 4.20

Example 32
7- (1-Bromovinyl) -2- (2-fluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol 7-bromo-2- (2-fluoro-4-methoxyphenyl) -5- The title compound was prepared from methoxy-1,3-benzoxazole in a manner substantially similar to that described in Examples 29-30, and was obtained as an off-white solid, mp 235-237 ° C .; MS m / e 350 (M + H) ⁺ .
C ₁₅ H ₉ BrFNO ₃ as Calcd: C, 51.45; H, 2.59 ; N, 4.00
Found: C, 51.63; H, 2.38; N, 3.98

Example 33
7- (1-Bromovinyl) -2- (2,3-difluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol 7-Bromo-2- (2,3-difluoro-4-methoxyphenyl) ) The title compound was prepared from 5-methoxy-1,3-benzoxazole in a manner substantially similar to that described in Examples 29-30 to give an off-white solid, mp 240-242 ° C; MS m / e 366 (M-H) ^<+> .
Analysis as C ₁₅ H ₈ BrF ₂ NO ₃ Calculated: C, 48.94; H, 2.19; N, 3.80
Found: C, 49.63; H, 2.33; N, 3.61

Example 34
7-allyl-2- (3-fluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol 7-bromo-2- (3-fluoro-4-methoxyphenyl) -5-methoxy-1, The title compound is prepared from 3-benzoxazole, allyltributyltin and dichlorobis (tri-o-tolylphosphine) palladium in a manner substantially similar to that described in Example 24, route c), step b); Demethylated according to Example 20, step e). The desired product was obtained as a pale pink solid, mp 169-171 ° C .; MS m / e 284 (M−H) ⁺ .
Analyzed as C ₁₆ H ₁₂ FNO ₃ Calculated: C, 67.37; H, 4.24; N, 4.91
Found: C, 67.37; H, 4.16; N, 4.66

Example 35
7-ethynyl-2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol tetrakis (triphenylphosphine) palladium (0) (52 mg, 0.045 mmol) was added to 7-bromo-5-methoxy- 2- (4-methoxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazole (0.3 g, 0.9 mmol), copper (I) iodide (17.1 mg, 0.09 mmol), ethynyl (trimethyl) silane (0.2 gmg) 2 mmol) and triethylamine (12 mL). The mixture was stirred at 110 ° C. for 4 hours, poured into aqueous ammonium chloride and extracted with EtOAc / THF (1/1). The organic extract was dried over MgSO ₄ . Evaporated and purified by flash chromatography (hexane / EtOAc 6/1) to give an off-white solid (0.27 g, 85% yield). The product was dissolved in CH ₂ Cl ₂ (2 mL), cooled to −78 ° C., and boron tribromide (0.6 mL) was added dropwise. The mixture was warmed to room temperature. After stirring at room temperature for 18 hours, the mixture was slowly poured into cold (0 ° C.) ethyl ether (10 mL). Then methyl alcohol (3 mL) was slowly added to the mixture. The mixture was washed with water (3 times) and dried over MgSO ₄ . Evaporation and purification by flash chromatography (hexane / EtOAc 3/1) gave a yellow solid (86 mg, 38% yield, mp 229-231 ° C.); MS m / e 252 (M + H) ⁺ .
Analyzed as C ₁₅ H ₉ NO ₃ Calculated: C, 71.71; H, 3.61; N, 5.58
Found: C, 71.39; H, 3.49; N, 5.32.

Example 36
2- (4-Hydroxyphenyl) -7-propyl-1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol Tetrakis (triphenylphosphine) palladium (0) (70 mg, 0.06 mmol) was added to 7-bromo-5-methoxy- 2- (4-Methoxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazole (0.4 g, 1.2 mmol), bromo (propyl) zinc (0.5 M in THF, 3.6 mL, 1.8 mmol) and THF (4 mL) To the mixture. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 48 hours, poured into HCl (1N) and extracted with EtOAc. The organic extract was dried over MgSO ₄ . Evaporated and purified by flash chromatography (hexane / EtOAc 6/1) to give an off-white solid (0.14 g). The product was dissolved in CH ₂ Cl ₂ (2 mL), cooled to −78 ° C., and boron tribromide (0.35 mL) was added dropwise. The mixture was warmed to room temperature. After stirring at room temperature for 18 hours, the mixture was poured into cold (0 ° C.) ethyl ether (10 mL). Then methyl alcohol (3 mL) was slowly added to the mixture. The mixture was washed with water (3 times) and dried over MgSO ₄ . Evaporated and purified by flash chromatography (hexane / EtOAc 4/1) to give a white solid (90 mg, 27% yield, mp 110-112 ° C.); MS m / e 270 (M + H) ⁺ .
Analyzed as C ₁₆ H ₁₅ NO ₃ Calculated: C, 71.36; H, 5.61; N, 5.20
Found: C, 71.02; H, 5.58; N, 4.94

Example 37
7-Butyl-2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol 7-Bromo-5-methoxy-2- (4-methoxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazole and bromo (butyl The title compound was prepared from zinc in a manner substantially similar to that described in Example 35. The desired product was obtained as a white solid, mp 125-127 ° C .; MS m / e 282 (M−H) ⁺ .
Analysis as C ₁₇ H ₁₇ NO ₃ Calculated: C, 72.07; H, 6.05; N, 4.94
Found: C, 72.78; H, 5.87; N, 4.69

Example 38
7-Cyclopentyl-2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol 7-Bromo-5-methoxy-2- (4-methoxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazole and bromo (cyclopentyl) The title compound was prepared from zinc in a manner substantially similar to that described in Example 35. The desired product was obtained as a white solid, mp 220-222 ° C .; MS m / e 296 (M + H) ⁺ .
Analysis as C ₁₈ H ₁₇ NO ₃ Calculated: C, 73.20; H, 5.80; N, 4.74
Found: C, 73.05; H, 5.74; N, 4.59

Example 39
Ethyl 5-hydroxy-2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazole-7-carboxylate Step a) 7-Bromo-5-{[tert-butyl (dimethyl) silyl] oxy} -2- ( 4-{[tert-butyl (dimethyl) silyl] oxy} phenyl) -1,3-benzoxazole 7-bromo-5-methoxy-2- (4-methoxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazole and tert-butyl The title compound was prepared from (chloro) dimethylsilane in a manner substantially similar to that described in Example 24, route a), step a). The desired product was obtained as a white solid, mp 90-91 ° C .; MS m / e 534 (M + H) ⁺ .
C ₂₅ H ₃₆ BrNO ₃ Si ₂ as Calcd: C, 56.16; H, 6.79 ; N, 2.62
Found: C, 55.66; H, 6.86; N, 2.68

Step b) Ethyl 5-hydroxy-2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazole-7-carboxylate n-butyllithium (2.5M, 0.3 mL, 0.75 mmol) was added to 7-bromo. -5-{[tert-Butyl (dimethyl) silyl] oxy} -2- (4-{[tert-butyl (dimethyl) silyl] oxy} -phenyl) -1,3-benzoxazole (0.4 g,. 75 mmol) and THF (4 mL) was added dropwise to a cold (0 ° C.) solution. The mixture was warmed to 40 ° C. and then stirred for 2 hours. [(Cyanocarbonyl) oxy] ethane (84 mg) in THF (1 ML) was added to the reaction mixture and the reaction mixture was warmed to 0 ° C. and stirred for 1 h. The reaction was quenched with aqueous ammonium chloride, extracted with EtOAc, and dried over MgSO ₄ . Evaporated and purified by flash chromatography (hexane / CH ₂ Cl ₂ / isopropyl alcohol 18/2/1) to give as a colorless oil (340 mg). The product was dissolved in THF (3.5 mL) and treated with tetrabutylammonium fluoride (1M in THF, 1.4 mL). The mixture was stirred for 30 minutes, poured into HCl (1N) and extracted with EtOAc. The organic extract was dried over MgSO ₄ . Evaporation and purification by flash chromatography (hexane / CH ₂ Cl ₂ / isopropyl alcohol 5/2/1) gave a white solid (119 mg, 53% yield, mp 305-307 ° C.); MS m / e 300 (M + H) ⁺ .
Analysis as C ₁₆ H ₁₃ NO ₅ Calculated: C, 64.21; H, 4.38; N, 4.68
Found: C, 64.04; H, 4.43; N, 4.40

Example 40
2- (4-Hydroxyphenyl) -7-phenyl-1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol Step a) 5-Methoxy-2- (4-methoxyphenyl) -7-phenyl-1,3-benzoxazole 7 -Bromo-5-methoxy-2- (4-methoxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazole (200 mg, 0.60 mmol) and tetrakis (triphenylphosphine) palladium (0) (63 mg, 0.03 mmol) in toluene ( 5 mL) and stirred at room temperature for 10 minutes under a nitrogen atmosphere. Benzeneboronic acid (110 mg, 0.90 mmol) was added followed by aqueous sodium carbonate (2M, 1.5 mL) and ethanol (2 mL). The mixture was refluxed for 12 hours, diluted with water and extracted with EtOAc. The organic extract was dried over MgSO ₄ . Evaporated and purified by flash chromatography (20% to 40% EtOAc / petroleum ether) to give the title compound as a pale pink solid, mp 92 ° C .; MS m / e 332 (M + H) ⁺ .
Analyzed as C ₂₁ H ₁₇ NO ₃ Calculated: C, 76.12; H, 5.17; N, 4.23
Found: C, 75.86; H, 5.08; N, 4.07

Step b) 2- (4-Hydroxyphenyl) -7-phenyl-1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol The title compound is prepared according to the method of Example 20, Step e) (Route a) and obtained as a pale solid. Mp 255-258 ° C .; MS m / e 302 (M−H) ⁺ .
Analyzed as C ₁₉ H ₁₃ NO ₃ x0.25H ₂ O Calculated: C, 74.14; H, 4.42; N, 4.55
Found: C, 73.81; H, 4.40; N, 4.35

Example 41
5-Hydroxy-2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazole-7-carbonitrile Step a) 5-Methoxy-2- (4-methoxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazole-7-carb Nitrile Stir a solution of 7-bromo-5-methoxy-2- (4-methoxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazole (200 mg, 0.60 mmol) in anhydrous N, N dimethylformamide (1.5 mL) The mixture was heated to reflux with copper (I) cyanide (80 mg, 0.90 mmol) for 4 hours under dry nitrogen. The mixture was cooled and poured into excess ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. The crude product was isolated to give the nitrile (164 mg, 98% yield) as tan needles (from 30% EtOAc / petroleum ether); mp 180-183 ° C .; MS m / e 281 (M + H ) ⁺ .
Analyzed as C ₁₆ H ₁₂ N ₂ O ₃ x0.2H ₂ O Calculated: C, 66.84; H, 4.48; N, 9.74
Found: C, 66.63; H, 4.33; N, 9.60

Step b) 5-Hydroxy-2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazole-7-carbonitrile The title compound was prepared according to the method of Example 20, Step e) (Route b) and prepared as a pale pink solid Mp. 297-303 [deg.] C obtained as MS; m / e 253 (M + H) ^<+> .
_{C 14 H 8 N 2 O 3} x0.5H 2 O as Calcd: C, 64.37; H, 3.47 ; N, 10.72
Found: C, 64.44; H, 3.49; N, 9.92

Example 42
5-hydroxy-2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazole-7-carboxamide The title compound was obtained as a pale tan solid as a by-product from the reaction of Example 40, step b, mp 325 ° C; MS m / e 271 (M + H) ⁺ .
_{C 14 H 10 N 2 O 4} x0.5H 2 O as Calcd: C, 60.22; H, 3.97 ; N, 10.03
Found: C, 59.71; H, 3.91; N, 9.84

Example 43
2- (4-Hydroxyphenyl) -7-methoxy-1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol 7-bromo-2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -1 in anhydrous N, N dimethylformamide (1.5 mL) , 3-Benzoxazol-5-ol (100 mg, 0.33 mmol) and copper (I) bromide (56 mg, 0.39 mmol) were mixed with freshly prepared sodium methoxide (15 wt% in methanol, 1 ml). And heated to 120 ° C. for 4 hours. The mixture was cooled and diluted with HCl (1N, 5 ml). The crude product was isolated with ethyl acetate followed by flash chromatography (40% -50% EtOAc / petroleum ether) to give the title compound as an off-white solid (50 mg, 60% yield, mp 225-228 ° C. ); MS m / e 258 (M + H) ⁺ .
_{C 14 H 11 NO 4 x0.75H 2} O as Calcd: C, 62.11; H, 4.65 ; N, 5.17
Found: C, 62.53; H, 4.73; N, 5.02

Example 44
7-ethyl-2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol Step a) 7-ethyl-5-methoxy-2- (4-methoxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazole n -Butyllithium (2.5N, 0.43 mL, 1.08 mmol), 7-bromo-5-methoxy-2- (4-methoxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazole (300 mg, 0.90 mmol) and THF (2 mL) was added dropwise to a cold (−78 ° C.) mixture. The mixture was kept stirring for 0.5 hour. Iodoethane (0.14 mL, 1.8 mmol) was added dropwise to the mixture. The reaction mixture was warmed to room temperature and stirred for 2 hours. The reaction was quenched with aqueous ammonium chloride, poured into water and extracted with EtOAc. The organic extract was washed with brine and dried over MgSO ₄ . Evaporation and purification by flash chromatography (20% EtOAc / petroleum ether) gave the product (231 mg, 91% yield) as a light brown solid: mp 85 ° C .; MS m / e 284 (M + H) ⁺ .
_{C 17 H 17 NO 3 x0.2H 2} O as Calcd: C, 70.28; H, 6.17 ; N, 4.94
Found: C, 70.12; H, 5.74; N, 4.82

Step b) 7-Ethyl-2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol The title compound was prepared according to the method of Example 20, Step e) (Route b) and a pale brown solid ( 98% yield), mp 110-115 ° C .; MS m / e 256 (M + H) ⁺ .

Example 45
7-Ethyl-2- (2-ethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol Step a) 7-Ethyl-5-methoxy-2- (2-ethyl-4-methoxyphenyl) -1,3-Benzoxazole The title compound was prepared according to the method of Example 43, step a) using 2 equivalents of n-butyllithium and the crude product was used directly in the next step.

Step b) 7-ethyl-2- (2-ethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol 7-ethyl-5-methoxy-2- (2-ethyl-4-methoxyphenyl) The title compound was prepared from 1,3-benzoxazole according to the method of Example 20, step e) (route b) and obtained as a gray solid (87% yield); MS m / e 284 (M + H) ⁺ .

Example 46
5-hydroxy-2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazole-7-carbaldehyde Step a) 5-methoxy-2- (4-methoxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazole-7-carboaldehyde The title compound was prepared as a pale orange solid (94%, mp 153-155 ° C.) according to the method of Example 43, step a, using aldehyde N-methylformanilide as the electrophile; MS m / e 284 (M + H ) ⁺ .
Analyzed as C ₁₆ H ₁₃ NO ₄ Calculated: C, 67.84; H, 4.63; N, 4.94
Found: C, 67.58; H, 4.53; N, 4.75

Step b) 5-hydroxy-2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazole-7-carbaldehyde 5-methoxy-2- (4-methoxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazole-7-carboaldehyde The title compound was prepared from the aldehyde according to the method of Example 20, step e) (route b) and obtained as a dark yellow solid (99% yield, mp 273-275 ° C.); MS m / e 256 (M + H) ⁺ .
_{C 14 H 9 NO 4 x0.25H 2} O as Calcd: C, 64.74; H, 3.69 ; N, 5.39
Found: C, 64.32; H, 3.59; N, 5.18

Example 47
7- (Hydroxymethyl) -2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol Step a) 5-Methoxy-7- (hydroxymethyl) -2- (4-methoxyphenyl) -1 , 3-Benzoxazole Sodium borohydride (66.8 mg, 1.76 mmol) was added to 5-methoxy-2- (4-methoxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazole-7-carbaldehyde in anhydrous MeOH (8 mL). To a solution of (250 mg, 0.88 mmol) was added at 0 ° C. The reaction mixture was stirred for 30 minutes and then evaporated under reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in diethyl ether, washed with water and brine, dried over MgSO ₄ and filtered. Evaporated and purified by flash chromatography (50% EtOAc / petroleum ether) to give the product (210 mg, 83%) that was used directly in the next reaction.

Step b) 7- (hydroxymethyl) -2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol 5-methoxy-7- (hydroxymethyl) -2- (4-methoxyphenyl) -1 , 3-Benzoxazole, and the title compound was prepared according to the method of Example 20, Step e (Route b) and obtained as a light brown solid, mp 282 ° C. (dec); MS m / e 258 (M + H) ⁺ .
Analyzed as C ₁₄ H ₁₁ NO ₄ x0.5H ₂ O Calculated: C, 63.16; H, 4.54; N, 5.26
Found: C, 63.33; H, 4.36; N, 5.04

Example 48
7- (Bromomethyl) -2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol 5-methoxy-7- (hydroxymethyl) -2- (4-methoxyphenyl) -1,3-benzo The title compound was prepared from oxazole according to the method of Example 20, step e) (route b) with extended stirring in the presence of boron tribromide and obtained as a light brown solid, mp 250-260 ° C. Decomposition); MS m / e 321 (M + H) ⁺ .
Analyzed as C ₁₄ H ₁₀ BrNO ₃ Calculated: C, 52.52; H, 3.15; N, 4.38
Found: C, 52.26; H, 3.17; N, 4.07

Example 49
[5-Hydroxy-2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-7-yl] acetonitrile 7- (Bromomethyl) -2- (4- in N, N-dimethylformamide (1.5 mL) To a solution of hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol (122 mg, 0.40 mmol) was added 18-crown-6-ether (202 mg, 0.80 mmol) and potassium cyanide (131 mg, 2 mmol). The reaction mixture was kept stirring for 2 hours, then poured into water and extracted with EtOAc. The organic extract was washed with brine and dried over MgSO ₄ . Evaporation and flash chromatography (50% -60% EtOAc / petroleum ether) gave the product (80 mg, 75% yield) as a gray solid, mp 170-180 ° C .; MS m / E265 (M-H) ^<+> .
_{C 15 H 10 N 2 O 3} x1.5H 2 O as Calcd: C, 61.43; H, 4.47 ; N, 9.55
Found: C, 61.41; H, 4.21; N, 9.19

Example 50
7- (1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl) -2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol]
Step a) 2- [5-Methoxy-2- (4-methoxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-7-yl] propan-2-ol 7-bromo-5-methoxy-2- (4-methoxyphenyl) The title compound was prepared from 1,3-benzoxazole according to the method of Example 43, step a using acetone as the electrophile to give a white solid (78% yield, melting point 149 ° C.). MS m / e 314 (M + H) ⁺ .
Analyzed as C ₁₈ H ₁₉ NO ₄ Calculated: C, 69.99; H, 6.11; N, 4.47
Found: C, 68.78; H, 6.13; N, 4.35

Step b) 7- (1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl) -2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol]
From 2- [5-methoxy-2- (4-methoxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-7-yl] propan-2-ol according to the method of Example 20, step e) (route b), the title The compound was prepared and obtained as a dark brown solid (90% yield, mp 180-185 ° C.); MS m / e 286 (M + H) ⁺ .
Analysis as C ₁₆ H ₁₅ NO ₄ x0.5H ₂ O Calculated: C, 65.30; H, 5.48; N, 4.76
Found: C, 65.03; H, 5.20; N, 4.72.

Example 51
2- (4-Hydroxyphenyl) -7-isopropenyl-1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol pyridine hydrochloride (400 mg) was heated to 190 ° C. To the melt was added 2- [5-methoxy-2- (4-methoxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-7-yl] propan-2-ol (114 mg, 0.36 mmol) and the reaction was converted to 2 Stir for hours. The mixture was cooled to room temperature, dissolved in water and extracted with EtOAc. The organic layers were combined, washed with HCl (1N), water, then brine and dried over MgSO ₄ . Evaporation and purification by flash chromatography (50% -60% EtOAc / petroleum ether) gave the product (40 mg, 41% yield) as a light red-brown solid, mp 225-228 ° C .; MS m / E268 (M + H) ⁺ .
_{C 16 H 13 NO 3 x0.5H 2} O as Calcd C, 69.56; H, 5.11; N, 5.06
Found: C, 69.46; H, 5.22; N, 4.56

Example 52
2- (4-Hydroxyphenyl) -7-isopropyl-1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol]
2- (4-Hydroxyphenyl) -7-isopropenyl-1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol (64 mg, 0.24 mmol) was dissolved in EtOAc (5 mL) and absolute ethanol (5 mL). Placed under an inert atmosphere. To this mixture was added 10% Pd-C (25 mg). The solution was hydrogenated on a Parr apparatus at 25 psi for 3 hours. The solution was filtered through celite and washed with ethanol. The filtrate was concentrated and the residue was purified by flash chromatography (50% EtOAc / petroleum ether) to give the product (58 mg, 90% yield) as a tan solid, mp 200 ° C .; MS m / e 270 (M + H) ⁺ .

Example 53
7-Bromo-2- (4-hydroxy-3- (trifluoromethyl) phenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol Step a) 2-Bromo-4-methoxy-6-{[4-methoxy- 3- (trifluoromethyl) benzoyl] amino} phenyl 4-methoxy-3- (trifluoromethyl) benzoate From 2-amino-6-bromo-4-methoxyphenol and 4-methoxy-3-trifluoromethylbenzoyl chloride The title compound was prepared in a manner substantially similar to that described in Example 20, step c). The product was obtained as an off-white solid, mp 205-208 ° C .; MS m / e 622 (M + H) ⁺ .
C ₂₅ H ₁₈ BrF ₆ NO ₆ as Calcd: C, 48.25; H, 2.92 ; N, 2.25
Found: C, 48.47; H, 2.76; N, 2.16

Step b) 7-Bromo-5-methoxy-2- (4-methoxy-3- (trifluoromethyl) phenyl] -1,3-benzoxazole 2-Bromo-4-methoxy-6-{[4-methoxy- 3- (trifluoromethyl) -benzoyl] amino} phenyl 4-methoxy-3- (trifluoromethyl) benzoate and p-toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate as described in Example 20, step d (route a). The title compound was prepared in a manner substantially similar to that of the product, the product was obtained as an off-white solid, mp 183-185 ° C., MS m / e 402 (M + H) ⁺ .
Analyzed as C ₁₆ H ₁₁ BrF ₃ NO ₃ Calculated: C, 47.79; H, 2.76; N, 3.48
Found: C, 47.60; H, 2.50; N, 3.37

Step c) 7-Bromo-2- (4-hydroxy-3- (trifluoromethyl) phenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol 7-Bromo-5-methoxy-2- (4-methoxy-3) The title compound was prepared from-(trifluoromethyl) phenyl] -1,3-benzoxazole according to the method of Example 20, Step e (Route b) and obtained as a pale yellow solid (50% yield, melting point) 200-210 ° C.); MS m / e 372 (M−H) ⁺ .
_{C 14 H 7 BrF 3 NO 3} x0.5H 2 O as Calcd: C, 43.89; H, 2.10 ; N, 3.65
Found: C, 43.59; H, 2.04; N, 3.6

Example 54
7- (2-Furyl) -2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol Step a) 7- (2-Furyl) -5-methoxy-2- (4-methoxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazole 7-bromo-5-methoxy-2- (4-methoxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazole (300 mg, 0.90 mmol) and dichlorobis (tri-o-tolylphosphine) palladium (II ) (71 mg, 0.09 mmol) was dissolved in p-xylene (3 mL) and stirred at room temperature for 10 minutes under a nitrogen atmosphere. 2- (Tributylstannyl) furan (449 mg, 1.26 mmol) was added and the mixture was refluxed for 4 hours. The mixture was cooled to room temperature, diluted with a saturated solution of ammonium chloride and extracted with EtOAc. The organic extract was washed with water then brine, dried over MgSO ₄ and concentrated. Purification by flash chromatography (20% -30% EtOAc / petroleum ether) gave the title compound as a white solid (99% yield, mp 120-121 ° C.); MS m / e 322 (M + H) ⁺ .
Analyzed as C ₁₉ H ₁₅ NO ₄ Calculated: C, 71.02; H, 4.71; N, 4.36
Found: C, 70.23; H, 4.7; N, 4.19

Step b) 7- (2-Furyl) -2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol The title compound was prepared according to the method of Example 50 and prepared as a pale pink solid (64% yield). Rate, mp 283-287 ° C.); MS m / e 294 (M + H ⁺ )
Analyzed as C ₁₇ H ₁₁ NO ₄ Calculated: C, 69.62; H, 3.78; N, 4.78
Found: C, 69.11; H, 3.6; N, 4.64

Example 55
2- (3-Fluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -7- (2-furyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol Step a) 2- (3-Fluoro-4-methoxyphenyl) -7- ( 2-Furyl) -5-methoxy-1,3-benzoxazole from 7-bromo-5-methoxy-2- (4-methoxy-3- (trifluoromethyl) phenyl] -1,3-benzoxazole 53, The title compound was prepared according to the method of step a to give amber crystals (73% yield, melting point 155 ° C.); MS m / e 340 (M + H) ⁺ .
Analyzed as C ₁₉ H ₁₄ FNO ₄ Calculated: C, 67.25; H, 4.16; N, 4.13
Found: C, 66.88; H, 3.97; N, 4.04

Step b) 2- (3-Fluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -7- (2-furyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol 2- (3-Fluoro-4-methoxyphenyl) -7- ( The title compound was prepared from 2-furyl) -5-methoxy-1,3-benzoxazole according to the method of Example 50 and obtained as a gray solid (81% yield, mp 245-250 ° C.); MS m / E312 (M + H) ⁺ .
_{C 17 H 10 FNO 4 x0.7C 3} H 6 O as Calcd: C, 65.04; H, 4.37 ; N, 3.79
Found: C, 64.84; H, 4.29; N, 3.70

Example 56
2- (4-Hydroxyphenyl) -7-thien-2-yl-1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol Step a) 5-Methoxy-2- (4-methoxyphenyl) -7-thien-2-yl ) -1,3-benzoxazole 7-Bromo-5-methoxy-2- (4-methoxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazole and 2- (tributylstannyl) thiophene from Example 53, step a The title compound was prepared according to The product was obtained as a white solid (95% yield), mp 95-100 ° C .; MS m / e 338 (M + H).

Step b) 2- (4-Hydroxyphenyl) -7-thien-2-yl-1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol 5-methoxy-2- (4-methoxyphenyl) -7-thien-2-yl The title compound was prepared from 1,3-benzoxazole according to the method of Example 50 and obtained as a gray solid (80% yield, mp 278-280 ° C.); MS m / e 310 (M + H) ⁺ .
Analysis as C ₁₇ H ₁₁ NO ₃ Sx0.25H ₂ O Calculated: C, 65.06; H, 3.69; N, 4.46
Found: C, 64.93; H, 3.84; N, 4.21

Example 57
2- (4-Hydroxyphenyl) -7- (1,3-thiazol-2-yl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol Step a) 5-Methoxy-2- (4-methoxyphenyl) -7 -(1,3-thiazol-2-yl) -1,3-benzoxazole 7-bromo-5-methoxy-2- (4-methoxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazole and 2- (tributylstannyl) The title compound was prepared from thiazole according to the method of Example 53, step a. The product was obtained as an off-white solid (93% yield, mp 132-136 ° C.); MS m / e 339 (M + H) ⁺ .
Analyzed as C ₁₈ H ₁₄ N ₂ O ₃ S Calculated: C, 63.89; H, 4.17; N, 8.28
Found: C, 63.53; H, 3.94; N, 8.15

Step b) 2- (4-Hydroxyphenyl) -7- (1,3-thiazol-2-yl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol 5-methoxy-2- (4-methoxyphenyl) -7 The title compound was prepared from-(1,3-thiazol-2-yl) -1,3-benzoxazole according to the method of Example 50 and obtained as a yellow solid (55% yield, mp 245-255 ° C). ); MS m / e 311 (M + H) ⁺
_{C 16 H 10 N 2 O 3} Sx1.5H 2 O as Calcd: C, 56.97; H, 3.88 ; N, 8.30
Found: C, 57.24; H, 3.95; N, 7.50

Example 58
2- (3-Fluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -5-hydroxy-1,3-benzoxazole-7-carbonitrile 7-bromo-2- (3-fluoro-4-methoxyphenyl) -5-methoxy-1 The title compound was prepared according to the method of Example 35 from 1,3-benzoxazole and zinc cyanide. The product was obtained as a white solid, mp 308-310 ° C., MS m / e 269 (M−H) ⁺ .
_{C 14 H 7 FN 2 O3x1.5H 2} O as Calcd: C, 61.01; H, 2.77 ; N, 10.16
Found: C, 60.68; H, 2.46; N, 9.77

Examples 59 and 60
4-Bromo-2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -7-methoxy-1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol (Example 59)
4,6-Dibromo-2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -7-methoxy-1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol (Example 60)
The title compound was prepared according to the method of Example 28 from 2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -7-methoxy-1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol and N-bromosuccinimide. The product (a) was obtained as a white solid, mp 246-248 ° C., MS m / e 336 (M + H) ⁺ .
_{C 14 H 10 BrNO 4 x1H 2} O as Calcd: C, 49.49; H, 3.08 ; N, 4.12
Found: C, 49.28; H, 2.89; N, 3.87
The product (b) was obtained as a white solid, mp 260-262 ° C., MS m / e 414 (M + H) ⁺ .
Analysis Calculated _{C 14 H 9 Br 2 NO 4} : C, 40.52; H, 2.19; N, 3.37
Found: C, 40.21; H, 2.00; N, 3.3

Example 61
7-Bromo-2- (3,5-difluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol 3,5-difluoro-4-methoxybenzoic acid and 2-amino-6-bromo-4 The title compound was prepared from methoxyphenol in a manner substantially similar to that described in Example 21 and obtained as a white solid, mp 270-272 ° C .; MS m / e 340 (M−H) ⁺ .
Analysis as C ₁₃ H ₆ BrF ₂ NO ₃ Calculated: C, 45.64; H, 1.77; N, 4.09
Found: C, 45.81; H, 1.73; N, 3.89

Example 62
2- (3,5-difluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -7-vinyl-1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol 7-bromo-2- (3,5-difluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -1, The title compound was prepared from 3-benzoxazol-5-ol in a manner substantially similar to that described in Example 24, route b, and was obtained as a white solid, mp 160-262 ° C .; MS m / e 288 (M−H) ⁺ .
_{C 15 H 9 F 2 NO 3} x0.1H 2 O as Calcd: C, 61.52; H, 3.23 ; N, 4.78
Found: C, 61.53; H, 3.10; N, 4.72.

Example 63
7-Bromo-2- (4-hydroxy-2-methylphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol From 4-methoxy-2-methylbenzoic acid and 2-amino-6-bromo-4-methoxyphenol The title compound was prepared in a manner substantially similar to that described in Example 21 and obtained as a pale solid, mp 120-135 ° C .; MS m / e 320 (M + H) ⁺ .
Analyzed as C ₁₄ H ₁₀ BrNO ₃ Calculated: C, 52.52; H, 3.15; N, 4.38
Found: C, 52.24; H, 2.97; N, 4.15

Example 64
2- (3-Fluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -7- (1-fluorovinyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol Hydrogen fluoride pyridine (1.14 mL) was added to 2 in sulfolane (3 mL). -[4- (Acetyloxy) -3-fluorophenyl] -7-vinyl-1,3-benzoxazol-5-yl acetate (0.25 g, 0.7 mmol) was added to cold (0 ° C) pyridine. The reaction mixture was stirred for 5 minutes, then 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylimidazolidine-2,4-dione (120 mg) was added in one portion. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 24 hours, diluted with HCl (1N) and extracted with EtOAc. The organic layer was dried over MgSO ₄ , evaporated and purified by flash chromatography (CH ₂ Cl ₂ / isopropyl alcohol 0.3%) to give 7- (2-bromo-1-fluoroethyl) -2- ( 3-Fluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol was obtained as a white solid (0.25 g, mp 185-186 ° C.). The product was dissolved in acetonitrile (2 mL) and 1,8-diazabicyclo [5.4.0] undec-7-ene (150 mg) was added. The reaction mixture was stirred for 24 hours, poured into a cold (0 ° C.) HCl (1N, 10 mL) solution and extracted with EtOAc. The organic extract was dried over MgSO ₄ . Evaporated and purified by flash chromatography (20% EtOAc / hexane) to give as a white solid (160 mg, mp 213-214 ° C.); MS m / e 290 (M + H) ⁺ .
_{C 15 H 9 BrF 2 NO3x0.3H 2} O as Calcd: C, 61.15; H, 3.28 ; N, 4.75
Found: C, 60.84; H, 3.41; N, 4.57

Claims (47)

Structural formula:

[Where:
R ₁ is alkenyl of 2 to 7 carbon atoms; wherein the alkenyl group is hydroxyl, —CN, halogen, trifluoroalkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, 1 to 6 carbon atoms trifluoroacetic alkoxy _{of, -COR 5, -CO 2 R 5} , -NO 2, CONR 5 R 6, NR 5 R 6 or _N (R 5) may be substituted by COR _6;
R ₂ and R _2a are each independently hydrogen, hydroxyl, halogen, alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, alkoxy of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, alkenyl of 2 to 7 carbon atoms, 2 to Alkynyl of 7 carbon atoms, trifluoroalkyl of 1-6 carbon atoms or trifluoroalkoxy of 1-6 carbon atoms; wherein the alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl group is hydroxyl, —CN , halogen, trifluoroalkyl of 1-6 carbon atoms, trifluoromethyl alkoxy of 1 to 6 carbon _{atoms, -COR 5, -CO 2 R 5} , -NO 2, CONR 5 R 6, NR 5 R 6 Or optionally substituted by N (R ₅ ) COR ₆ ;
R ₃ and R _3a are each independently hydrogen, alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, alkenyl of 2 to 7 carbon atoms, alkynyl of 2 to 7 carbon atoms, halogen, 1 to 4 An alkoxy of 1 to 6 carbon atoms or a trifluoroalkoxy of 1 to 6 carbon atoms; wherein the alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl group is hydroxyl, —CN, halogen, , trifluoroalkyl of 1-6 carbon atoms, trifluoromethyl alkoxy of 1 to 6 carbon _{atoms, -COR 5, -CO 2 R 5} , -NO 2, CONR 5 R 6, NR 5 R 6 or N Optionally substituted by (R ₅ ) COR ₆ ;
R ₅ and R ₆ are each independently hydrogen, alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms or aryl of 6 to 10 carbon atoms;
X is O, S or NR ₇ ;
R ₇ is hydrogen, alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, aryl of 6 to 10 carbon atoms, —COR ₅ , —CO ₂ R ₅ or —SO ₂ R ₅ ]
Or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.   The compound of claim 1, wherein X is O. R ₁ is hydroxyl, —CN, halogen, trifluoroalkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, trifluoroalkoxy of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, —COR ₅ , —CO ₂ R ₅ , —NO ₂ , CONR _{5 R 6, NR 5} R ₆ or _N (R 5) may be substituted by COR _6, alkenyl of 2-3 carbon atoms, according to claim 1 or 2 a compound according.   The compound according to claim 1, which is 2- (3-fluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -7-vinyl-1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.   The compound according to claim 1, which is 2- (2-fluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -7-vinyl-1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.   The compound according to claim 1, which is 2- (2,3-difluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -7-vinyl-1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.   The compound according to claim 1, which is 4-bromo-2- (3-fluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -7-vinyl-1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.   The compound according to claim 1, which is 4,6-dibromo-2- (3-fluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -7-vinyl-1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. .   The compound according to claim 1, which is 7- (1-bromovinyl) -2- (2-fluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.   The compound according to claim 1, which is 7- (1-bromovinyl) -2- (2,3-difluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. .   The compound according to claim 1, which is 7-allyl-2- (3-fluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.   The compound according to claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, which is 2- (3,5-difluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -7-vinyl-1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol.   The compound according to claim 1, which is 2- (3-fluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -7- (1-fluorovinyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. a) 2- (5-hydroxy-1,3-benzoxazol-2-yl) benzene-1,4-diol;
b) 3- (5-hydroxy-1,3-benzoxazol-2-yl) benzene-1,2-diol;
c) 2- (3-Fluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol;
d) 2- (3-Chloro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol;
e) 2- (2-Chloro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol;
f) 2- (3-Fluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-6-ol;
g) 2- (3-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-6-ol;
h) 2- (6-hydroxy-1,3-benzoxazol-2-yl) benzene-1,4-diol;
i) 3- (6-Hydroxy-1,3-benzoxazol-2-yl) benzene-1,2-diol;
j) 4- (6-Hydroxy-1,3-benzoxazol-2-yl) benzene-1,2-diol;
k) 2- (3-Chloro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-6-ol;
l) 4- (5-Hydroxy-1,3-benzoxazol-2-yl) benzene-1,3-diol;
m) 4- (6-Hydroxy-1,3-benzoxazol-2-yl) benzene-1,3-diol;
n) 6-chloro-2- (3-fluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol;
o) 6-bromo-2- (3-fluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol;
p) 6-chloro-2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol;
q) 5-chloro-2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-6-ol;
r) 7-bromo-2- (3-fluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol;
s) 7-bromo-2- (2-fluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol;
t) 7-bromo-2- (2,3-difluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol;
u) 2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -7-vinyl-1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol;
v) 7- (1,2-dibromoethyl) -2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol;
w) 7- (1-bromovinyl) -2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol;
x) 7-ethynyl-2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol;
y) 2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -7-propyl-1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol;
z) 7-butyl-2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol;
aa) 7-cyclopentyl-2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol;
bb) ethyl 5-hydroxy-2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazole-7-carboxylate;
cc) 2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -7-phenyl-1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol;
dd) 2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -7-methoxy-1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol;
ee) 7-ethyl-2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol;
ff) 7-ethyl-2- (2-ethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol;
gg) 5-hydroxy-2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazole-7-carbaldehyde;
hh) 7- (hydroxymethyl) -2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol;
ii) 7- (bromomethyl) -2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol;
jj) [5-Hydroxy-2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-7-yl] acetonitrile;
kk) 7- (1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl) -2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol];
ll) 2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -7-isopropenyl-1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol;
mm) 2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -7-isopropyl-1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol];
nn) 7-bromo-2- (4-hydroxy-3- (trifluoromethyl) phenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol;
oo) 7- (2-furyl) -2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol;
pp) 2- (3-Fluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -7- (2-furyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol;
qq) 2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -7-thien-2-yl-1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol;
rr) 2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -7- (1,3-thiazol-2-yl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol;
ss) 2- (3-Fluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -5-hydroxy-1,3-benzoxazole-7-carbonitrile;
tt) 4-bromo-2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -7-methoxy-1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol;
uu) 4,6-bibromo-2- (4-hydroxyphenyl) -7-methoxy-1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol;
vv) 7-bromo-2- (3,5-difluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl) -1,3-benzoxazol-5-ol;
Or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.   14. A method of treating or inhibiting prostatitis or interstitial cystitis in a mammal in need thereof, comprising providing said mammal with an effective amount of a compound according to any one of claims 1-13.   A method of treating or inhibiting inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, ulcerative proctitis or colitis in a mammal in need thereof, wherein the mammal is administered with an effective amount of the compound of any one of claims 1-13. A method that includes giving.   Mammary prostate enlargement, uterine leiomyoma, breast cancer, endometrial cancer, polycystic ovary syndrome, endometrial polyps, benign breast disease, adenomyosis, ovarian cancer, melanoma, prostate cancer, colon 14. A method for the treatment or inhibition of cancer, glioma or astroblastoma, comprising providing said mammal with an effective amount of a compound according to any one of claims 1-13.   Reduce cholesterol, triglycerides, Lp (a) or LDL levels in mammals in need thereof; or hypercholesterolemia; hyperlipidemia; cardiovascular disease; atherosclerosis; hypertension; peripheral vascular disease; 14. A method of inhibiting or treating restenosis or vasospasm; or inhibiting vascular wall damage from a cancer event that induces immune-mediated vascular damage, wherein said mammal is an effective amount of any of claims 1-13. Providing a compound as described.   A method for providing cognitive enhancement or neuroprotection in a mammal in need thereof; or a method for treating or inhibiting senile dementia, Alzheimer's disease, cognitive decline, seizures, anxiety or neurodegenerative disorders, the amount effective for the mammal A method comprising providing a compound according to any one of claims 1-13.   14. A method of treating or inhibiting a free radical-induced condition in a mammal in need thereof, comprising providing said mammal with an effective amount of a compound according to any one of claims 1-13.   Vaginal or vulvar atrophy in mammals in need thereof; atrophic vaginitis; vaginal dryness; pruritus; sexual pain; dysuria; frequent urination; urinary incontinence; 14. A method comprising providing said mammal with an effective amount of a compound according to any one of claims 1-13.   14. A method of treating or inhibiting vasomotor symptoms in a mammal in need thereof, comprising providing said mammal with an effective amount of a compound according to any one of claims 1-13.   14. A method of inhibiting fertility in a mammal in need thereof, comprising providing said mammal with an effective amount of a compound according to any one of claims 1-13.   14. A method of treating or inhibiting arthritis in a mammal in need thereof, comprising providing said mammal with an effective amount of a compound according to any one of claims 1-13.   25. The method of claim 24, wherein the arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis or spondyloarthritis.   A method of treating or inhibiting joint swelling or erosion in a mammal in need thereof; or a method of treating or inhibiting joint damage associated with arthroscopic or surgical procedures, wherein the mammal is in an effective amount. Providing a compound according to any one of the preceding claims.   14. A method of treating or inhibiting psoriasis or dermatitis in a mammal in need thereof, comprising providing said mammal with an effective amount of a compound according to any one of claims 1-13.   A method of treating or inhibiting ischemia, reperfusion injury, asthma, pleurisy, multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, uveitis, sepsis, hemorrhagic stroke or type II diabetes in a mammal in need thereof 14. A method comprising providing said mammal with an effective amount of a compound according to any one of claims 1-13.   14. A method of treating or inhibiting endometriosis in a mammal in need thereof, comprising providing said mammal with an effective amount of a compound according to any one of claims 1-13.   A pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound according to any one of claims 1 to 13 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.   A method of treating or inhibiting inflammatory bowel disease in a mammal in need thereof, comprising providing said mammal with an effective amount of an ER-β selective ligand, said ER-β selective ligand against ER-β A method wherein the binding affinity is at least about 20 times greater than its binding affinity for ER-α.   32. The method of claim 31, wherein the inflammatory bowel disease is Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, atypical colitis, infectious colitis or ulcerative proctitis.   35. The method of claim 32, wherein the binding affinity of the ER- [beta] selective ligand for ER- [beta] is at least about 50 times greater than its binding affinity for ER- [alpha].   In a standard pharmacological test method for measuring uterine hypertrophy activity, the wet weight of the uterus in which the ERβ selective ligand is less than about 10% of the weight gain observed for a maximally effective dose of 17β-estradiol. In a standard pharmacological test method that increases mammary stimulating activity and the ERβ selective ligand is less than about 10% of that observed for a maximally effective dose of 17β-estradiol 34. The method of claim 33, wherein the method produces an increase in II mRNA.   ER-β selective ligands do not significantly increase uterine wet weight compared to controls lacking uterine hypertrophy activity (p> 0.05) and significantly (p> 0 compared to controls lacking mammary stimulating activity). .05) The method of claim 34, wherein the method does not increase casein kinase II mRNA.   A method of treating or inhibiting arthritis in a mammal in need thereof, comprising providing said mammal with an effective amount of a non-uterine hypertrophic, non-mammary stimulating ERβ selective ligand, comprising: A method wherein the binding affinity for ER-β is at least about 20 times greater than its binding affinity for ER-α.   37. The method of claim 36, wherein the arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis or spondyloarthritis.   38. The method of claim 37, wherein the binding affinity of the ER-β selective ligand for ER-β is at least about 50 times greater than its binding affinity for ERα.   In a standard pharmacological test method for measuring uterine hypertrophic activity, the wet weight of the uterus in which the ERβ selective ligand is less than about 10% of the weight gain observed for a maximally effective dose of 17β-estradiol. In a standard pharmacological test method that increases mammary stimulatory activity and the ERβ selective ligand is less than about 10% of that observed for a maximally effective dose of 17β-estradiol 40. The method of claim 38, wherein the method produces an increase in II mRNA.   The ER-β selective ligand does not significantly increase uterine wet weight compared to controls lacking uterine hypertrophy activity (p> 0.05) and significantly (p> 0 compared to controls lacking mammary stimulating activity). .05) The method of claim 39, wherein the method does not increase casein kinase II mRNA.   A method of treating or inhibiting joint swelling or erosion in a mammal in need thereof; or a method of treating or inhibiting joint damage associated with arthroscopic or surgical procedures, wherein the mammal has an effective amount of non-uterine hypertrophy, Providing a non-mammary stimulating ERβ selective ligand, wherein the binding affinity of the ER-β selective ligand for ER-β is at least about 20 times greater than its binding affinity for ER-α.   42. The method of claim 41, wherein the binding affinity of an ER- [beta] selective ligand for ER- [beta] is at least about 50 times greater than its binding affinity for ER [alpha].   A method of treating or inhibiting endometriosis in a mammal in need thereof, comprising providing said mammal with an effective amount of an ER-β selective ligand, said ER-β selective ligand against ER-β A method wherein the binding affinity is at least about 20 times greater than its binding affinity for ER-α.   44. The method of claim 43, wherein the binding affinity of the ER-β selective ligand for ER-β is at least about 50 times greater than its binding affinity for ER-α.   In a standard pharmacological test method for measuring uterine hypertrophic activity, the wet weight of the uterus in which the ERβ selective ligand is less than about 10% of the weight gain observed for a maximally effective dose of 17β-estradiol. In a standard pharmacological test method that increases mammary stimulating activity and the ERβ selective ligand is less than about 10% of that observed for a maximally effective dose of 17β-estradiol 45. The method of claim 44, wherein the method produces an increase in II mRNA.   The ER-β selective ligand does not significantly increase uterine wet weight compared to controls lacking uterine hypertrophy activity (p> 0.05) and significantly (p> 0 compared to controls lacking mammary stimulating activity). .05) The method of claim 45, wherein the method does not increase casein kinase II mRNA. A method for producing a compound according to any one of claims 1 to 13, comprising:
a) Formula:

[Wherein R ₁ , R ₂ , R _2a and X are as defined in claim 1]
A compound represented by the formula:

[Wherein R ₃ and R _3a are as defined in claim 1 and Y is halogen, —OH or alkoxy of 1 to 6 carbon atoms]
Reacting with a compound of formula;
Or b) converting the compound of formula (II) according to claim 1 into a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof;
Or c) separating an isomeric mixture of the compound of formula (II) and isolating the enantiomer of the compound of formula (II) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof;
A method comprising one of: